The National Elections Commission (NEC) and determined registered voters of Montserrado District #11 braved the heavy down pour of rain Tuesday, July 3, 2912 to conduct and participate in the district’s By-election.

The vacuum was created as a result of the death of Representative Moses S. Tandapolie who died early this year during a retreat for the House of Representatives in Gbanga, Bong County. He was a member of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC).

Despite the rain, election workers from NEC, candidates’ representatives and both local and international observers were seen as early as 8am at most of the 20 voting precincts and 78 polling centers putting the necessary variables in place for the commencement of the voting process.

The NEC accredited 236 local observers and 29 international observers to observe the Montserrado District #11 By-election with dozens of police officers assigned.

Over 33,000 registered voters were expected to have participated in the election, but it appeared that a little below the number turned out. Residents of the district attributed the drop in the turn out to a number of factors including the heavy down pour of rain and lack of interest by some registered voters.

NEC certified 11 candidates for the race including the daughter of the late Representative Tandapollie, Siah Tandapollie who contested as Independent Candidate.

Other candidates were: Gabriel Nyenka of the ruling Unity Party (UP), Moses Roberts, Sr. of the Liberty Party (LP), Emmanuel J. Tarwo of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) and National Patriotic Party’s Richard Koon. Others are: Elizabeth T. Ankrah, Lemmuel S. Boah, Lafayette B. Gould, Sr., N’gafua J. Morlu, Minikon Talo and G.K. Zoedug, all Independent Candidates.

Following the close of the voting process at 6pm, election workers wasted no time in reconciling the ballots and embarking on the task of counting.

Although NEC said it will on today, July 5, 2012 release the official results of the Montserrado District #11 By-election, results gathered from most of the voting places suggested that Gabriel Nyenka of the UP is so far in the lead followed by NPP’s Richard Koon.

In separate interviews with the In Profile Daily at the end of the process, election workers, party and independent candidates’ representatives as well as observers described the election as peaceful, free, fair and transparent.

They lauded the high level of maturity and understanding exhibited during the election by both election workers and voters during the process.

Meanwhile, residents of Montserrado District #11 have challenged the candidate that will emerge as winner of the By-election to emulate the fine example of the late Representative Tandapollie by initiating or under taking projects for the development of the district.