Liberia Election – Weah Takes Early Lead in Liberia Presidential Election Count

• Former A.C. Milan soccer star George Weah and Vice President Joseph Boakai lead in Liberia’s presidential election as the
  electoral commission released its first provisional results for Tuesday’s vote.

Former international Liberian football star turned politician, and presidential election candidate George Weah

Weah, 51, won 39.4 percent of the votes while Boakai got 30.5 percent, according to  the results released on the website of the National Elections Commission on Thursday for about 350,000 of the ballots cast.

The NEC hasn’t yet declared how many of the 2.2 million registered voters took part in the polls.

Weah is leading all other candidates in 11 of the 15 counties, according to the results. A run-off vote will be scheduled in
November if none of the 20 candidates garners a 50 percent majority.

Liberians are choosing a new leader as President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf steps down after 12 years in office. While regional
observers said the election was conducted fairly and mostly peacefully, the party of candidate Charles Brumskine issued a
statement to complain of irregularities.

Read More: Liberians Elect New President As Johnson Sirleaf Steps Down

Earlier on Thursday, observers from the Economic Community of West African States urged the electoral commission to speed up the
release of provisional results to “prevent further anxiety,” according to a statement read to reporters.

The election in the West African nation could see Liberia transfer power from one elected president to another for the first time
in more than half a century. As many as 986 contestants vied for 73 seats in the House of Representatives.