BY: SHALLON S. GONLOR / shallonsgonlor@gmail.com
NIMBA COUNTY — The National Elections Commission magisterial office in Sanniquellie, upper Nimba County has disclosed a comprehensive update — indicating mass turnout and first-ever huge revenue in government from the just-ended Biometric Voters Registration Cards replacement exercise for eligible voters in the much anticipated District 5 Representative Byelection in Nimba County.
During a media briefing Monday at his magisterial office in Sanniquellie, Upper Nimba Senior Elections Magistrate, Milton Paye said the turnout during the just ended Replacement of Lost or Damaged Voter’s Registration Cards for the Nimba County Electoral District #5 Representative By-election was “unprecedented”.
Magistrate Paye emphasized that there were a total of four hundred and eighty-four (484) applicants who were issued new Voter’s Registration Cards for their lost or damaged cards during the replacement period, a number he said they have not seen since the cost was attached to the replacement process.
“With a level of turnout, we saw that the total number of replacement applicants was 484 applicants for replacement and they were issued their cards.” Magistrate Paye disclosed that of this amount, one hundred and thirty-six were females, three hundred and forty-eight males who participated in the process. “Among them, you have 136 females and 348 males; that’s the total of the replacement.”
He noted that each applicant paid $5 United States Dollars for a replacement card in line with section 3.5 (2) of the New Elections Law of Liberia.
Section 3.5 (2) of the New Elections Law of Liberia states: “In the event of loss or destruction of the voter registration cards, and after proof has been established, the registrar shall issue a new card for a minimum fee of five ($5.00) dollars to be paid in the Internal Revenue”.
“We do replacement for $5 US dollars or its equivalent determined by the LRA in Liberian dollars for the replacement of the lost or damaged voters’ card,” the Upper Nimba Elections Magistrate stated.
With the turnout reported, it means NEC-Liberia local office in Sanniquellie raised a total of Two Thousand, Four Hundred and Twenty ($2,420.00) United States Dollars in revenue for the government through the replacement process in the By-election.
“So this gone process cover it; 184 applicants multiplied by $5 US dollars; so we are talking about raising around $2,420.” Magistrate Paye was quick to clarify that the amount raised through the replacement process was paid directly to the Liberia Revenue Authority and not to the National Elections Commission.
“…and that money went into the government’s coffers; the turnout was so huge; we have to be very hardworking beyond time; in fact, we are grateful to the local office of the LRA in Sanniquellie.” The Replacement of Lost or Damaged Voter’s Registration Cards ran from July 8-13, 2025 and the Nimba Electoral District 5 Representative By-election will be held on August 12, 2025.
With cost attached to the Replacement of Lost and Damaged BVR’s Cards and the mass enrolment witnessed during the replacement process, Magistrate Paye said that shows how Liberians greatly welcomed the cost and values attached to the biometric voters card for future elections.
He maintained that Liberians were encouraged to accept the cost for national development, because nobody will come from a different country to build Liberia but only Liberian themselves by paying revenue in government’s coffer.
Magistrate Paye further reflected on the $2,420 United States Dollars raised in government’s revenue during the Biometric Voters Registration Card replacement exercise — adding that the amount generated will help in developing the Liberia.
“The 2,000-plus you’re discussing here now will do something in our country.”
The Upper Nimba Elections Magistrate urged every citizen of Liberia to begin investing in the country. “I think all of us are supposed to start doing, I mean, thinking about paying taxes and doing things in compliance with the government regulations.”
Magistrate Paye further encouraged Liberians to be patriotic — take action and take responsibility for national development.
“One of those things we need to do to get a place and civilized with sanity is to participate in a process that honors who is your leader; and because you will one day become a leader, he asserted. Promoting peace and democracy in the context of elections: Magistrate Paye stated that elections are an important mechanism in democratic and peace processes — cautioning citizens of Electoral District #5 in the ensuing representative byelection.
Democracy purpose is to provide citizens with an opportunity to choose freely their political leaders and allocate power peacefully. “…and we will learn from people to respect leaders and democracy;… Liberia, where regular elections happen is another tool for civilization,” he said. He defined democracy as government for the people, of the people, and government by the people. “The people of Electoral District #5, Nimba County, and other adjacent districts are the people.”
However, underlying tensions in a society and high-stake competition can also result in violent and fraudulous elections. Based on its mandate in peace, development and democracy promotion, the Upper Nimba Elections Magistrate wants citizens, and politicians in District#5 to seek the rule of law if they see something usual to address the challenge of holding the by-election.
“Should they see something unusual, they have the right under the law to bring it onto record.”
Magistrate Paye admonished citizens to promote and protect the democratic process because political and electoral violence remain an important threat to human security and regional stability. “That’s the same thing; so, if somebody does something wrong in your place and you saw it or any way you saw it and you get a case, raise the case.”
Paye relies on his electoral expertise and experience in conflict prevention to rally ordinary citizens and politicians to settle their political differences through peaceful negotiation. He concluded on urging the district’s by-election aspirants, and their supporters to play their part in ensuring peaceful, transparent and credible elections on Tuesday, August 2025.
“Our mandate is to observe and assess the pre-election period, activities on polling day, and the post-election period. Throughout, we will consider all factors relating to the credibility of the electoral process; … as we undertake this assessment and conduct our duties, we will be objective, independent and impartial,” he added. The outcomes of the elections will be significant not only for Nimba District 5, but also for the entire County and the country, Liberia at large.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in Nimba — including Senator Samuel G. Kogar are rallying all citizens of District 5 to uphold their commitment to ensure a peaceful and inclusive election in which the people of the district are able to freely exercise their right to vote, with the fundamental freedoms of expression, association and assembly fully respected.
As of the 2023 National Elections Commission Voter Registration, a total of 29,823 registered voters in Nimba District-5 will have the right to cast ballots for the 2025 Nimba County District 5 House of Representatives. During past elections in post-war Liberia and political demarcation declaring the Nimba District-5 under Buu-Yao in 2011 — former representative now Senator Samuel G. Kogar has been the sole representative from 2011, 2017, and 2023 in the House of Representatives, according to data collected.
