The National Elections Commission (NEC) has dismissed media reports suggesting it is facing an imminent eviction from its headquarters on 9th Street, Sinkor, describing such claims as speculative, misleading, and not reflective of the current legal status of the property dispute.
In a statement issued Sunday, the Commission clarified that all legal matters concerning the property are being handled by the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Justice and other relevant state institutions, emphasizing that litigation over the property remains ongoing before the courts.
According to the NEC, any determination regarding ownership, appeals, remedies, or enforcement actions must be made through established judicial processes rather than through anonymous sources or public speculation. The Commission warned that reports predicting an impending eviction risk creating unnecessary public anxiety and confusion.
Providing historical context, the NEC said the property was originally provided by the Government of Liberia to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in the 1960s for the construction of its headquarters. Following the destruction of the facility during Liberia’s civil conflict and USAID’s subsequent relocation, the property reverted to government control.
The Commission noted that during the administration of former President Charles Taylor, the site was reportedly allocated to the Lebanese Cultural Union for the construction of a children’s hospital. However, following the election of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the government reviewed the arrangement and later designated the property for the construction of the NEC headquarters, with construction beginning in 2009.
NEC further disclosed that ownership claims were previously advanced by the late Madam Fatu White and Mother Mai Roberts before the Commission moved into the facility, adding that those claims were addressed through legal and administrative channels at the time.
The electoral body also stated that, to its knowledge, there is no evidence that the Marshall Family whose ownership claim is central to the current dispute paid real estate taxes on the property during the period of the NEC’s occupation from 2010 to 2026.
Despite its position, the NEC acknowledged that questions surrounding ownership remain matters for judicial determination and reaffirmed its commitment to respecting the legal process.
The Commission said it remains focused on carrying out its constitutional mandate and preparations for future electoral activities while awaiting the outcome of the court proceedings.
