MONROVIA, October 2 (LINA) - Montserrado County Senior Senator Joyce Musu Freeman Sumo has said holding elections is not prudent in the face of the Ebola pandemic that is taking the lives of the very Liberians who are supposed to vote.
Senator Sumo said it is unfortunate that some Liberians are calling for the conduct of the Special Senatorial Elections despite the Ebola outbreak that is wrecking havoc on the country.
Senator Sumo’s job is up for grabs in the Mid-Term Senatorial polls, with heavy weights like Robert Sirleaf, son of the President, and George Weah of the Congress for Democratic Change in the race.
She made the observation Wednesday at a one-day consultative meeting organized by the National Elections Commission (NEC) for qualified independent candidates for the mid-term senatorial elections constitutionally slated for October 14, 2014.
Sumo emphasized that there is no need for elections when the country is under a state of emergency as a result of the Ebola crisis, pointing out, “People are dying in their numbers on a daily basis. The holding of elections would show to the world how ungrateful we are.”
She stressed that it is important for Liberians to understand that the constitution forbids the holding of elections when the country is under a state of emergency, noting that until the state of emergency is lifted, there can be no discussion on the holding of elections.
Senator Sumo observed that Liberians should focus on preventing the further spread of the Ebola disease, “rather than think of elections.”
LINA CB/PSN/TSS/PTK