DN News Liberia has learned that suspended National Elections Commission (NEC) Chairperson Davidetta Browne Lansanah is lobbying influential government officials for her reinstatement.
Sources close to the suspended chairperson revealed that Madam Lansanah has been in discussions with Finance Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan and Senior Advisor to the President Augustine Konneh as part of her efforts to regain her position.
In her move to further encourage those officials to negotiate the lifting of her suspension, our source added that Madam Lansanah has warned that her suspension by the President could hinder the chances of Liberia receiving the US Millennium Challenge Corporation grant of 500 million USD.
She argues that her suspension by the President could be considered an act of disregard for democracy and the rule of law, our source revealed.
“The lady (Madam Lansanah) is frightening the government by telling them that if she is not reinstated, it would jeopardize Liberia’s eligibility for the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) grant and strain relationships with ECOWAS and other donor partners. So both Ngafuan and Konneh are advocating for her return,” our source stated.
When contacted, Madam Davidetta Browne Lansanah said she could not comment due to instructions from her family and lawyer.
Meanwhile, aggrieved NEC workers have expressed strong opposition to Lansanah’s possible return.
The workers accused “greedy politicians” of politicizing the commission’s operations, threatening their livelihoods, and supporting individuals allegedly involved in corruption.
In a letter to diplomatic missions, they declared their unwillingness to work under Lansanah’s leadership and called for swift investigations by the LACC and the Ombudsman into allegations of corruption, insider trading, and conspiracy to defraud the government.
Both the LACC and Ombudsman failed to confirm whether Madam Davidetta Browne Lansanah is being investigated based on the complaint from the workers.
However, DN News has also gathered that due to the ongoing investigation, Madam Lansanah was recently denied a U.S. visa to travel abroad. Sources at NEC confirmed the report, stating the U.S. Embassy instructed her to clear her name with the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), where she is under investigation for alleged corruption.
This controversy has left the NEC, a vital institution in Liberia’s democratic process, embroiled in uncertainty.
Recently, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. indefinitely suspended Madam Davidetta Browne Lansanah, citing unilateral actions in violation of Liberia’s Elections Law. The decision, announced through an Executive Mansion press release, comes as tensions escalate at the NEC, including worker protests and allegations of administrative overreach.
Prior to the decision, Madam Browne Lansanah dismissed about 25 employees of the entity on allegations of insubordination and disruption at the workplace.
