With none of the 20 presidential candidates obtaining 50% plus 1 vote to win on the first ballot following the counting of over 98.40% of the total vote cast, Liberians are gradually embracing themselves for a second round between incumbent President George Weah of the Coalition, CDC and the main opposition leader—Joseph Boakai of the former ruling Unity Party UP.

The Chairperson of the Commission— Davidetta Brown Lansana releasing the progressive tally results Tuesday said Weah has taken a slight lead ahead of Boakai.

She said with over 98.40 percent of the total votes counted so far, President Weah obtained 43.79 percent while Boakai got 43.40 percent.

“Presidential progressive tallied report. 5,996 polling places of a total of 5,890 polling places constituting 98.40%. Boakai Joseph N, UP, votes obtained 786,205 constituting 43.49%, Weah George Manneh—CDC votes obtained 791,661 votes, constituting 43.79%,” she said.

This will be a rematch of the 2017 presidential runoff between  Weah and   Boakai.

Political analysts believe the latest statistics now push the two front-runners to a runoff election expected to be held in November 2023.

Article 83 https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Liberia_1986#s390 of the Liberian Constitution among other things says, voting for the President, Vice-President, members of the Senate and members of the House of Representatives shall be conducted throughout the Republic on the second Tuesday in October of each election year.

It also noted that all elections of public officers shall be determined by an absolute majority of the votes cast. If no candidate obtains an absolute majority in the first ballot, a second ballot shall be conducted on the second Tuesday following. The two candidates who received the greatest numbers of votes on the first ballot shall be designated to participate in the runoff election.