By Evelyn Kpadeh Seagbeh

MONROVIA, Liberia

Soccer star George Weah of the main opposition Coalition for Democratic Change is leading Monday's presidential election in Liberia, according to the preliminary results released late Thursday.

Weah, who is topping most of the country’s 15 counties in the first announcement of the National Elections Commission, is closely being followed by Vice President Joseph Boakai of the ruling Unity Party.

Commission Chairman Jerome Korkoya said the results were not final, and urged candidates and political parties to be patient and wait for official results, and avoid coming to a "premature conclusion".

"This can lead to problems and expectations that cannot be met," Korkoya said as he read the initial results.

The chairman warned political parties to refrain from declaring any result other than what the commission was releasing. This follows huge rumors and social media posts that George Weah had won the polls.