Published: April 3, 2026
NEC Chair-designate Jonathan K. Weedor (m) being welcomed at the NEC headquarters
MONROVIA — The Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) Europe Chapter has called on the Liberian Senate to reject the nomination of Jonathan K. Weedor as chairman of the National Elections Commission (NEC), citing concerns over alleged partisanship and risks to the Commission’s independence ahead of future elections.
In a statement issued April 2 from Brussels, the group argued that President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s nomination of Weedor contradicts his earlier commitment to a “competent and partisan-free” NEC.
The CDC Europe Chapter said its opposition is grounded not in political rivalry but in what it described as “constitutional uprightness” and the need to preserve the institutional integrity of the NEC.
The group accused Weedor of demonstrating partisan bias during the 2023 elections, alleging that he publicly aligned with claims of a first-round Unity Party victory that contradicted the NEC’s official position at the time.
“A man who has so publicly demonstrated partisan bias… cannot be trusted to sit at the helm of the National Elections Commission,” the statement said.
The CDC Europe Chapter warned that appointing a perceived partisan figure to lead the NEC could undermine public confidence in the electoral process and heighten tensions in a country with a history of political instability.
The statement referenced provisions of Liberia’s Constitution and Elections Law, including Article 89, which establishes the NEC as an autonomous body, and Article 90(a), which addresses conflicts of interest.
It also cited Section 2.5 of the Elections Law, which prohibits political affiliation among commissioners, arguing that these safeguards are essential to maintaining electoral credibility.
“When the independence of an elections commission collapses, confidence in elections collapses with it,” the group said.
The CDC Europe Chapter also accused President Boakai of inconsistency, recalling his 2022 call for the disbandment of the NEC over allegations of partisanship, as well as his demand for a neutral electoral body. The group said the nomination of Weedor, described as a campaign supporter, raises quest
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