The stalemate in the election result of Grand Cape Mount County came to an end Tuesday with the withdrawal of the Writ of Prohibition filed before the Supreme Court of Liberia by the defeated candidate of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), Foday Kromah against the winner, Cllr. Varney Sherman.
Cllr. Sherman, the chairman of the ruling Unity Party (UP) was announced the winner by the National Elections Commission (NEC) in the just-ended senatorial elections last December but is yet to take seat in the Legislature due to the protest filed against him.
Despite winning the election with a very high percentage of 61.7%, Dr. Kromah had asked NEC not to certificate Sherman as the winner, claiming the polls were rigged and marred by irregularities.
Following weeks of legal wrangle before the Supreme Court, lawyers for Kromah prayed the high court to dismiss the petition before it as he (Kromah) was no longer interesting in pursuing the case.
“Your honors, I want to tell this court to please drop this case because my client was no longer interesting in pursuing the case any further due to appeal made to him the communities, friends and also his supporters,” Kromah’s lawyer, Cllr. Thompson Jarba, wrote in a bill of information.
Following his appeal, lawyers representing Cllr. Sherman under the guidance of Cllr. Moses Payegar welcomed the move by Cllr. Jarba and prayed high court to act upon the bill with the high court by Cllr. Jarba to dismiss the case against senator-elect.
Upon his assertion, Chief Justice Francis Korkpor stated that the high court was going to rule on the bill of information very soon which will pave the way for the certification of Cllr. Varney Sherman by the National Election Commission (NEC).
“Matter suspended ruling in this case is reserved” said Chief Justice Francis Korkpor. The writ of prohibition against Cllr. Sherman brings to six the number of election related cases pending before the Supreme Court awaiting determination by the full bench.
Other related cases filed before the Supreme Court relative to the special senatorial elections are Lahai Lassana versus Morris Saytumah of Bomi County, Roseline Sneh versus Alfred Chie of Grand Kru County and Bhofal Chambers versus Gbleh-bo Brown of Maryland County. Others include Jonathan Boye Charles versus Commany Wesseh of River Gee County and Dr. Ansu Sonii and Saah Gbollie versus Jim Wombe Tornonlah of Margibi County.