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| George Weah |
There was wild jubilation in Liberia by
supporters of George Weah as provisional results from Tuesday’s
presidential runoff polls in the country have placed former
international football superstar far ahead with 61.5 per cent of
votes so far processed.
His rival and incumbent Vice President,
Joseph Boakai, is trailing behind with 38.5 per cent.
So far, 1,176,203 votes representing
98.1 per cent of the total 1,198,984 votes cast in the runoff polls
have been announced.
Chairman of the National Elections
Commission (NEC), Mr Jerome Korkoya, released the provisional results
at the commission’s headquarters in Monrovia on Thursday.
According to Korkoya, 100 per cent vote
processing has been recorded in 11 out of the 15 counties in the
country.
In all, Weah has swept 14 counties,
leaving only one for Boakai.
The former FIFA World Footballer of the
Year has won in Gbarpolu, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Kru,
Maryland, Montserrado, Rivercess, River Gee and Sinoe counties.
The vice president won in only Lofa
county, with 78,140 votes representing 84.1 per cent as against
Weah’s 14,789 votes or 15.9 per cent.
The announcement by the NEC chairman
sparked wild jubilation by youths across the streets of the capital.
Peter Kollie, 25, a commercial
motorcyclist, said it was a new dawn for Liberian youths.
“Our suffering and neglect by the
ruling class is over. Weah is coming to change Liberia for the
youths. It’s a great day for my country,” he said.
The announcement of results was
witnessed by Head of the ECOWAS elections observation mission and
former President of Ghana, Mr John Mahama.
Weah, 51, will take over from outgoing
President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, whose 12-year tenure ends in
January.
This will be the first democratic
transition of power since 1944 in a country devastated by decades of
civil war.
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