NEC – Liberia Strongly Denounces Protest at Upper Bong County Magisterial Office

Monrovia, Liberia | 8 January 2026|The National Elections Commission of Liberia (NEC – Liberia) has taken note of an incident involving a group of young individuals who, on Wednesday, 7 January 2026, went to the Commission’s Upper Bong County Magisterial Office, posted placards on the premises, and made disparaging and unsubstantiated claims that the appointment of Elections Magistrates or officers must be restricted to natives of the counties to which they are assigned.

The Commission categorically states that such claims are false, misleading, and unsupported by the Elections Law of Liberia.

NEC – Liberia strongly denounces and condemns any action by individuals or groups that amounts to interference with the lawful functions of the Commission as Liberia’s independent electoral management body.

Under existing law, the authority of the NEC to appoint Elections Magistrates is strictly administrative and organizational, aimed at ensuring the efficient, transparent, and credible conduct of electoral activities across all counties and electoral districts.

This authority is in no way contingent upon a birth-county or native-status requirement.

The current Elections Magistrate for Upper Bong County, Mr. Alfred W. Tokpa, is a seasoned and long-serving staff member of the Commission who previously served as a Regional Coordinator.

His appointment as Elections Magistrate for Upper Bong County was carried out in full compliance with the Elections Law.

Mr. Tokpa meets all required qualifications and exemplifies the core values and professional standards of the Commission.

The Commission hereby cautions all individuals and groups against actions that have the potential to disrupt the normal operations of any NEC office.

It further warns that any recurrence of such unlawful activities at the Upper Bong County Magisterial Office or elsewhere will compel the Commission to pursue appropriate legal remedies, and those involved will face the full weight of the law.

The National Elections Commission of Liberia remains steadfast in upholding its core values of independence, credibility, transparency, and professionalism in the administration of public elections throughout the Republic of Liberia.

Signed:Prince Dunbar

Communications Director