The
Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has disclosed the number of voters it
has so far registered for the upcoming presidential election in The Gambia on 1
December 2016.
At
a press briefing held yesterday at the Election House on Bertil Harding
Highway, IEC Chairman Alieu Momar Njai said 2016 has been a very busy year for
the Commission, as among its activities was the Supplementary registration of
electors (voters) which started on Thursday 14 January and ended on 12 March
2016.
“The
total number of registrants during the supplementary registration is 89, 649.
The number of voters now stands at 886,578 as opposed to 796,929 in 2011. The
number of polling stations is 1422 as opposed to 1300 in 2011,” the IEC
Chairman announced.
It
would be recalled that The Gambia has a population of 1.8 million inhabitants,
and there are 53 constituencies across the country.
There
is a replacement of lost, mutilated and defaced cards going on at the Election
House and all IEC Regional Offices, he told the media.
“This
exercise commenced on 1st June and will end on 29th September 2016,” Mr Njai
said, adding that a replaced voting card attracts a minimal fee of D100.
A
re-demarcation of some constituencies was carried out, and the number of
constituencies is now 53, according to Mr Njai.
He
said a fresh registration was not conducted in the affected areas, but the
Commission will resort to putting constituency stickers on the voting cards of
the affected voters to bring that situation in consonance with the law on
Election Day.
Very
imminent on the IEC calendar this year, he noted, is the Presidential Election,
an exercise that will lead the nation into another era of electoral evolution
and political growth and maturity.
Mr
Njai said elections are universally recognised to form a very important role in
safeguarding the desired peaceful environment of any nation.
He
applauded the Independent Electoral Commission’s stance of upholding electoral
integrity.
“Integrity
is a difficult concept to define though, but an indispensable element of a
democratic system of government as we very well desire for the Gambian
situation,” he said.
“The
concept of integrity is innate to the principles of democracy. Thus, this
concept contributes immensely to the administration of free and fair elections,
without which democracy would be compromised.”
It
is in view of this that IEC has set out to define election integrity as a set
of standards based on democratic principles, measures and mechanisms for
protecting free and fair elections.
Mr
Njai said election is the outcome of a complex process requiring the
participation of a multitude of players such as: Election officials, government
officials, political parties and politicians, security agents, Civil Society
Organisations, donor agencies, the media, diplomatic missions, the judiciary
and above all, the electorate.
“This
is to say to you once again that, the electoral process of the Gambia is a
business for all and that we all have to endeavour to see the full realization
of a strong electoral process which will stand out to be admired by others in
the Region and the world at large.”
The
IEC chairman also appealed against violence, saying there are always winners
and losers in every election.
He
said: “The stakes may be high, and temptation may be great to ensure victory
through illegal or morally questionable means in some countries.
“Election
results may be rigged to predetermine who will win or lose, and election may be
disrupted, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the process, but I stand here
today to pronounce to you that, as far as our concerted efforts are in play,
this will never be the case in our dear country.”
He
further stated: “The Independent Electoral Commission believes that an election
without integrity subverts the purpose of a democratic election, and cannot be
considered fair and equitable.
“The
IEC will ever concentrate on conducting free and fair elections. This, I
believe we will ever achieve by upholding governing principles such as: respect
for principles of electoral democracy; ethical conduct; accuracy and
transparency.”
Mr
Njai said the governing principles of the election guarantee free and fair
elections as essential conditions for election uprightness.
“A
free election on one hand depends on freedom of speech, assembly, association
and movement, and freedom from fear.
“A
fair election on the other hand depends on transparent electoral process,
equitable electoral legislation and systems, equal opportunities for all
participants, an independent and impartial elections commission, and absence of
intimidation, proper procedures, and acceptance of the electoral results.”
He,
therefore, appealed to all stakeholders to avoid violence of any sort and make
the election violence-free.
IEC
activities
The
Independent Electoral Commission, in exercise of its mandate under section 46
of the Constitution of The Gambia and Section 40 of the Elections Act, wishes
to inform the general public that election to the office of President of the
Republic of The Gambia will be conducted on Thursday 1st December 2016.
The
public is hereby informed that the IEC, acting under Section 47 of the
Constitution and 42(1) of the Elections Act will receive nomination of
candidates for the said election of President of the Republic of the Gambia
from 7th to 10th November 2016 between the hours of 8 o’clock in the fore noon
and 4 o’clock in the afternoon at the IEC Headquarters, Bertil Harding Highway.
In
exercise of its powers given in Section 85 of the Elections Act, the IEC wishes
to announce that the campaign period for the said election will be held from
Wednesday, 16th November 2016 to Tuesday, 29th November 2016.
The
public is hereby also notified under Section 5(2) of the Elections Act that the
appointed Returning Officer for the election of the Office of the President of
the Republic of the Gambia is Alieu Momarr Njai, Chairman of the IEC.
Nomination
papers can be collected from the IEC Headquarters from 3rd October 2016.
Polls
will open at 8am and close at 5pm. Counting of ballots will be done immediately
after the close of polls. In essence, the Polling Stations would be converted
to Counting Centres.
The
IEC is partnering with the NCCE and other stakeholders in order to engage on
massive voter sensitisation. This is made possible with funding from the
Government and UNDP.
The
Interparty Committee
The
IEC chairman also disclosed that the Interparty Committee in The Gambia has
been reactivated, and they meet periodically at the Election House. This is a
forum in which political parties discuss issues pertinent to politics,
elections and the electoral environment.
“I
want to reiterate the fact that throughout the electoral process, political
party agents are present – from registration to declaration of results.
Therefore, the electoral process is transparent, free and fair.”
IEC
Chairman Alieu Momar Njai announced the theme for the elections as: “The Gambia Decides: I am voting, are you?”
“This
is the theme for this cycle of elections – 2016-2018,” the IEC chairman
declared.
