MONROVIA (Reuters) – Liberian President George Weah on Friday conceded election defeat to opposition leader Joseph Bukai, just hours after opinion polls showed Bukai ahead with almost all votes counted, spokesmen for the candidates told Reuters.
Presidential Press Secretary Sulu Kahjabeh told Reuters that Weah “called Mr. Boakai to congratulate him.” “That’s the beauty of democracy.”
Boakai spokesman Amara Konneh confirmed the call.
The country’s electoral commission said on Friday that Bukai (78 years old), the former vice president who lost to Weah in the 2017 elections, received 50.89% of the votes compared to 49.11% that Weah obtained, according to the results of 99.6% of polling stations.
The final results are expected to appear in the coming days.
Preparing by Karel Du and Alfonso Tueh Reporting Writing by Annette Meridzanian. Edited by Edward McAllister, Louise Heavens, Jonathan Oatis, and Cynthia Osterman
Our standards: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
“Beer buff. Devoted pop culture scholar. Coffee ninja. Evil zombie fan. Organizer.”
More Stories
Hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators gather in Washington to commemorate the present and painful past
Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia could increase attacks on Ukraine
A source says 17 of the 20 US doctors stuck in Gaza are leaving with the help of US officials