-Following Her Resignation
Monrovia –In a move that closes a tumultuous chapter for Liberia’s democracy, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. has accepted the resignation of National Elections Commission (NEC) Chairperson Davidetta Browne Lansanah, ending a tenure marked by both international acclaim and a recent, bruising suspension.
The President’s acceptance, announced Tuesday, follows Lansanah’s formal resignation letter dated March 3, 2026, in which she cited the need for rest after more than twelve years of service. While the resignation was to take effect on March 15, President Boakai has requested she remain at the helm until March 31, 2026, to ensure a “seamless and orderly transition” as the NEC oversees a major renovation project.
“Hon. Browne Lansanah’s service has significantly contributed to strengthening Liberia’s electoral framework,” President Boakai stated, acknowledging her role in enhancing the “credibility, stability, and institutional integrity” of the nation’s democratic processes. He will now initiate the constitutional process of nominating a successor.
Lansanah’s departure, more than a year before her term was set to expire in 2027, caps a dramatic reversal of fortune. Appointed by former President George Weah in April 2020, she was lauded for her stewardship of the peaceful and credible 2023 general elections, which drew praise from international observers. She oversaw the NEC through several by-elections and was seen as a pillar of institutional stability.
However, her final months in office were overshadowed by a major confrontation with the very government she served. In January 2026, President Boakai suspended her indefinitely, accusing her of “unilateral actions in violation of Liberia’s Elections Law.” An investigation found that she had shuttered the NEC for a month and dismissed 25 staff members without the legally mandated consultation with the Board of Commissioners. The suspension was a political earthquake, creating a leadership vacuum at the elections body and raising concerns about its independence.
Though the suspension was controversially lifted in February following high-level mediation by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the damage to her position appeared irreversible.
In her resignation letter, Lansanah struck a gracious tone, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to serve and emphasizing her desire for a smooth transition. “It has been an honor and privilege to serve in these roles, contributing to the democratic processes that are vital to the future of our Nation,” she wrote.
Before stepping aside, Lansanah will oversee the launch of a US$1.1 million renovation project at the NEC’s Monrovia headquarters, a fitting final task for a chairperson who has now overseen both the construction of Liberia’s democratic mandates and the physical infrastructure meant to house its future. The search for a successor now begins, with President Boakai tasked with finding a nominee who can heal the Commission’s wounds and steer it toward the next electoral cycle.
