Temple of Justice, Monrovia – The Supreme Court of Liberia opinion read by Associate Justice Jamesetta H. Wolokollie on Wednesday, August 11, 2021 has ordered the certification of the CPP candidate Simeon B. Taylor with full benefits and emoluments as if he were seated January 2021 after eight months of long electoral dispute in the 2020 Special Senatorial Election.
The high court in its ruling said the merit of the case, having been dismissed on appeal, the clerk of the Court was ordered to send the mandate to the National Election Commission to resume Jurisdiction and give effect to the judgment.
According to the Supreme Court Judgment, after they had reviewed the records, heard arguments and contentions advanced by the Counsels representing the parties, and considered the facts and laws cited and relied thereupon, it is hereby adjudged that whilst it is an offense under the New Election law(1986) for a voter to register twice, in the face of the National Election Commission’s (NEC) admission in this case that the name of Co-appellee Simeon B. Taylor appearing on the FRRs in Tahn and Lofa Bridge was due to error on the part of the NEC, and there was no intent shown that Co-appellee Simeon B. Taylor registered twice for the purpose of voting twice, the Court could not impute any wrong doing to Co-appellee Simeon B. Taylor.
The Judgment of the high court further said that whilst there is evidence that Co-appellee Simeon B. Taylor’s name appeared twice on the FRRs of Tahn and Lofa Bridge, it was established that he only voted in Tahn in the December 8, 2020 Special Senatorial Election.
The Court acknowledge the absence of evidence from accusations that individuals bearing the last name Taylor as found in the FRRs were family members of Co-appellee Simeon B. Taylor and that they registered and voted twice in the Special Senatorial Election held on December 8, 2020 in Grand Cape Mount County. Going forward, the Court said, even if such was the case, there is still no evidence that the alleged act was the knowledge and consent of Co-appellee Simeon B. Taylor.
The ruling further added that the appellant (Victor Watson) failed to establish proof of pre-marked ballots, forgery of signatures on the Senate Record of Count and the stopping of its poll watcher from entering the polling stations.
“That the law in this jurisdiction is that a reviewing court shall not substitute it’s judgment for that of an administrative agency as to the weight of the evidence on Questions of fact, unless substantial rights of the appellant have been prejudiced because the administrative findings, inferences, conclusion or the decisions are clearly erroneous in view of the reliable, probative and substantial evidence on the whole records, which this court has not seen in this case,” the SC opinion further stated.
“Wherefore, and in view of the foregoing, the final ruling of the Board of Commissioners of the National Election Commission declaring Co-appellee Simeon B. Taylor as the winner of the Special Senatorial Election, held on December 8, 2020 in Grand Cape Mount County, is hereby affirmed,” the Court ruled, noting, “The merits of this case having been dismissed on appeal, Co-appellee Simeon B. Taylor is ordered forthwith certificated with full benefits and emoluments as if he were seated January 2021,” the Supreme Court final ruling declared.
Immediately following the Court ruling, Senator-elect Simeon B. Taylor in an exclusive interview said he is calling on Cape Mountains to reconcile and let the past acrimony go for the good and development of the county.
Senator elect Taylor has also called on former Senator Victor Watson to come on board and work together for the common good of the County.
Mr. Taylor won with a margin of 1,626 votes of the total votes.
Meanwhile, Mr. Taylor said he expected the ruling in his favor because he didn’t do what he was allegedly accused of.
Mr. Taylor was represented by Cllr. Benedict Sannoh while CDC candidate Victor Watson was represented by Cllr. Arthur Johnson and Alhaji Swaliho A. Sessay; and NEC was represented by Cllr. Wilkins M. Wrights.
