Coalition for Democratic Change’s George Weah and Unity Party’s Joseph Boakai are headed for a run-off in Liberia's presidential election.
With 95 percent of votes counted, George Weah of the Coalition for Democratic Change and Vice President Joseph Boakai is on a collision course to persuade and influence the rest of the 18-candidates who were eyeing the Liberian Presidency into their corner.
Per the political eagerness of the ‘18- contingent’ the possible words that will dominate the discussion table will be the promises of appointments and jobs for foot soldiers.
Out of the 5390 polling stations, results from 5151 has been counted and declared.
In a ‘bitter lead’ is Senator George Manneh Weah who has obtained 572, 374 votes representing 39.0%; Vice President Joseph Boakai of the ruling Unity Party has obtained 427,544 votes for 29. 0%; Liberty Party’s Charles Walker Brumskine, 144,353 votes for 9.8%; Alexander Cummings of the Alternative National Congress has obtained 104,125 votes for 7.1 % and Senator Prince Y. Johnson of the Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction has 102,561 votes for 7.0%.
Meanwhile, Vice President Joseph Boakai has said he is very confident in winning the election in the first round but results declared so far does not favour the incumbent Vice President and his Unity Party.
“As far as I’m concern, I know the Unity Party is going to win the elections, nothing is going to stop it,â€
As it stands now no candidate can obtain 50 percent of the votes, and therefore a run-off will be scheduled in November between the top two contenders, according to Liberian law.
George Weah is ahead in 12 of Liberia’s 15 counties including Montserrado, it's most populous, while Boakai leads in two including his home county Lofa.
Comparatively, in 2005 and 2011, at this stage of the process, the two leading candidates have already begun making moves across the corridor in hopes of winning over supporters of the rest of the playing field in a bid to strengthen positions for the run-off.
This year is no exception, the lobbying for positions have already commenced.
George Weah, according to sources has reached out to Liberty Party’s Charles Walker Brumskine and Alexander Cummings of the Alternative National Congress.