Former President Goodluck Jonathan has called for a free and fair election ahead of the Boxing Day Presidential run-off in Liberia.
The former President is serving as the co-leader of the delegation of the United States’ National Democratic Institute (NDI) International Elections Observation Mission to the polls.
The run-off election is being contested by the ruling Unity Party candidate and current Vice President, Joseph Nyumah Boakai, and the opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) candidate, George Weah.
Jonathan, who alongside Atifete Jahjaga, former president of Kosovo and other NDI leaders met separately with both Weah and Boakai, urged them to appeal to their supporters to conduct themselves peacefully.
He said: “In any election, there are winners and losers. Only one presidential candidate will be declared winner.
“The other should accept the election results to avoid a political crisis, especially if there are no good grounds to challenge the outcome.”
A statement by his media adviser, Ikechukwu Eze said the former President also urged the political parties, the National Electoral Commission, and security outfits to play their roles, ensure a peaceful, inclusive and transparent electoral process.
Jonathan also noted that Nigeria and other West African nations played vital roles in stabilizing the nation, appealing to Liberians not to do anything that could jeopardise the post-war peace in the land.
He added: “The economy of Liberia will benefit immensely from a positive and peaceful outcome, as a free and fair process would go a long way in reassuring investors that the country is now safe for lasting investment.
“If the election fails it means Liberia has failed; it also means that Liberia has failed West Africa and failed the entire Africa.”
Speaking, Weah said: “If the Liberian people decide that the other side will have another twelve years in the Presidency, we will call and congratulate them.
“But as I said, if the election is free and fair, we are going to win. This is because we have worked so hard and our people want the change which we are offering.”
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