2017 Liberian General Election Tuesday Oct 10,2017

The 2017 Liberian General Election os scheduled to take place on Tuesday Oct 10,2017 to elect the President and 73-Members of the House of Representatives

Liberians are set to go to the polls to choose a successor to Africa's first elected female president and Nobel Peace laureate Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

Ex-football star George Weah and Vice-President Joseph Boakai are the main contenders in the race to succeed her.

Liberia, founded by freed US slaves in the 19th Century, has not had a smooth transfer of power in 73 years.

Ms Sirleaf urged people to vote peacefully in a nation still recovering from a 14-year civil war.

"Your vote is about you and your family - not party, ethnicity," she said in an address to to the nation.

A total of 20 presidential candidates are running to succeed Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

They include Alex Cummings, a former Coca-Cola executive, and MacDella Cooper, an ex-model and girlfriend of George Weah 

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf(78)is stepping down at the end of her two terms.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf took office in 2006, after her predecessor, Charles Taylor, was forced out of office by rebels in 2003.

Charles Taylor is currently serving a 50-year prison sentence in the UK for war crimes related to the conflict in neighbouring Sierra Leone.

George Weah (51)has chosen Charles Taylor's ex-wife Jewel Howard Taylor as his running mate.

This is the former footballer of the year's third attempt to become president.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. has failed to campaign for Joseph Boakai, fuelling speculation that the two have fallen out.

Supporters ofJoseph Boakai(72)are campaigning under the slogan: "Our ma [Ms Sirleaf] spoil it, our pa will fix it."

Almost 2.2 million people are registered to vote in the election.

Parliamentary elections are also due to be held at the same time.

Campaigning has been dominated by promises to tackle poverty, corruption, and guarantee stability in the West African state.

Liberia is one of the poorest countries in the world, with more than 50% of people living in poverty.

It was one of three West African states badly hit by the 2014-15 Ebola outbreak which left more than 11,300 people dead.

 The election would be crucial; it would be the first time since 1944 in Liberia a democratically elected president will turn over the presidency to another elected president. 

The new president will replace current President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, first female president in Africa, who will leave office in January 2018. 

Under the Liberian constitution, a president cannot run for a third term

Presidential Candidates

There are 20 presidential candidates running to replace President Sirleaf. According to public opinions, three candidates are leading in the race. They are Senator George Weah (photo), Coalition for Democratic Change, CDC; Vice President Joseph Boakai, ruling Unity Party, UP; and Counselor Charles Brumskine, Liberty Party, LP. These parties were in the last two presidential elections. UP won all. However, this time in this election, the opposition vows to win, vows for change. It is an election in which change vs. continuity. It is a crucial and important election not only for Liberians, but also for the international community, particularly the African south region. The international community was instrumental in bringing peace and sustaining peace in Liberia.