Liberians have elected a new President, dashing George Weah’s hope for a fresh six year term.
Weah, an African football legend, conceded defeat to opposition candidate Joseph Boakai in Friday’s run-off election. The Liberia National Elections Commission announced that Boakai, a former Vice President won 51% of the votes
“The results announced tonight, though not final, indicate that Ambassador Joseph N. Boakai is in a lead that we cannot surpass. Therefore, a few minutes ago, I spoke with President-elect Joseph N. Boakai to congratulate him on his victory.” Weah said in a nationwide broadcast.
“Tonight, as we acknowledge the results, let us also recognize that the true winners of these elections are the people of Liberia.”
President Weah was voted into office in 2018 and will step down in January.
A run-off was triggered when Weah, 57, secured a victory in an earlier October poll with a margin of just 7,000 votes over his political rival, Boakai. However, he fell short of the required 50% threshold necessary to clinch an outright victory.
He has been praised for immediately conceding ensuring, a peaceful transfer of power – a significant milestone in Liberia’s fragile democracy, which has seen civil war and previous leaders killed in office.
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu was among the first to congratulate the new President-elect while also commending Weah’s “sterling example, undiluted patriotism, and statesmanship. He has defied the stereotype that peaceful transitions of power are untenable in West Africa,” a statement from Nigeria’s presidency said.
