Liberia’s Vice President Joseph Boakai said on Thursday he hoped Tuesday’s presidential election was free, fair and transparent, and also expressed optimism that he could still win.

Liberians voted on Tuesday in a second round run-off for a successor to outgoing President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, meant to usher in the first democratic transfer of power in more than seven decades.

Backers of Boakai’s opponent, soccer star George Weah, said on Thursday he was poised to declare victory in presidential election after their data showed him winning more than 60 percent of the vote – an assertion dismissed by his rival.

Unofficial tallies by media outlets have consistently shown the former AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain player ahead in the vote.

Electoral authorities did not confirm the figures from Weah’s campaign team.

Liberia’s National Elections Commission (NEC) was expected to start announcing official results later on Thursday, though the process has been beset by delays.

reuters