Liberia's Run Off Poll Marked by Low Turnout Daily Brief: Tuesday 26 December 2017

George Weah at a campaign stop

Monrovia, Liberia

Liberians went to the polls on Tuesday to decide on their next president. The election pits ex-international footballer George Weah against current Vice President Joseph Boakai in a runoff. Nearly 2.2 million people were eligible to vote in the runoff in the tiny West African country.

The runoff vote was delayed for more than a month after Boakai and another candidate alleged widespread fraud in October’s first-round vote, a challenge that the Supreme Court rejected this month.

The winner of the Liberian run-off election is poised to break the record as the first president in more than 70 years to take over from another democratically elected president. The last time it happened was in 1944 when the 18th President, Edwin Barclay turned over to William V.S. Tubman to become the 19th president.

George Weah is favored to win in the run off. Its his second stab at the presidency after losing out to the incumbent,EllenJohnson Sirleaf in the 2005 presidential election. This was after a civil war that had destabilized the country.

Liberians are demanding a change since the current administration has been weighed down by rampant corruption, inability to contain the Ebola outbreak and government waste through luxury spending.

George Weah has been criticized for his weak public speaking skills, and inability to comprehend government intricacies. He also has the support of war criminal Charles Taylor's National Patriotic Party (NPP). Taylor's former wife is the current vice presidential candidate . If Weah wins, mrs Taylor will serve as the senate's president.

The turnout was low. This was due to voter fatigue as the elections have been dragged out for weeks after the presidential results were challenged in the country's supreme court.

Officials said results were expected in the next few days, declining to give a specific date.The National Elections Commission said there were isolated incidents of voting irregularities, including one woman caught trying to vote twice, but no sign of widespread graft.

This election is exciting to watch. We here at the Briefing Room will keep you updated on the results.