Liberia incumbent president declared winner in final run-off result

Liberia's incumbent President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has been declared winner of the November 8 presidential run-off election, the National Elections Commission (NEC) said Tuesday afternoon, announcing the final run-off results. President Sirleaf of the Unity Party beat her rival, Winston Tubman of the Congress for Democratic Change by an 81.4% margin of the total votes cast in the run-off election, according NEC. Even though Tubman boycotted the polls and questioned the legitimacy of Sirleaf after preliminary results were announced, NEC announced the final results in favour of the incumbent. Addressing a news conference in Monrovia, the Electoral body Acting Chairman Elizabeth J. Nelson said out of the 669,825 valid votes, Sirleaf of the Unity Party received 607,618 amounting to 90. 7 percent. She stated that 62,207 of the votes went to opposition Winston Tubman amounting to 9.3 percent. "All of the 4,457 polling places have been counted and tallied 100 percent. Based on the November 8, 2011 Presidential run-off election, duly certified by the board of Commissioners of the National Elections Commission, and by virtue of authority in me vested as Acting Chairman of the board, I do hereby declared Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Ambassador Joseph N. Boakai as President and Vice President elect respectively of the Republic of Liberia," she said. "On behalf of the Election Commission, I wish to congratulate the Unity Party on the occasion of its victory in the Presidential run-off election," Madam Nelson declared. She pointed out that certification of winners of the 2011 presidential and legislative elections will be held on Monday, November 28, 2011 in the commission's conference room. The Acting electoral boss used the occasion to recognize the efforts of all its partners including the United Nations Mission in Liberia UNMIL, the Government of Liberia and other international and local partners for the assistance in moving the country's electoral process forward and maintaining the peace. She called for peace and reconciliation amongst political rivals, citing that the elections process is over. However, Acting Chairman Nelson said during the two rounds of elections, 53 complaints were filed to the commission and the body has heard 48 while five are pending. She urged all political parties and independent candidates to submit their campaign expenditure report to the commission not later than 15 days following the announcement of the results.