After
two weeks of election campaign by candidates and their political parties for
parliamentary seats, 886,578 people will tomorrow go to the polls to elect their
parliamentary representatives in the 53 constituencies across The Gambia.
There
are 238 candidates contesting the elections - after the withdrawal from the
race of one independent candidate - with 44 candidates of UDP led by lawyer
Ousainou Darbo; 52 candidates (except Foni Kansala) of GDC led by Mamma Kandeh,
and 29 candidates in badges of 24 of the APRC (former ruling party of Yahya
Jammeh) to contest in the 53 constituencies.
The
PPP the oldest party led by Omar Jallow has 14 candidates contesting in the
elections, the GPDP of Henry Gomez has 4 candidates, NCP of Landing Bolong
Bojang has 3 candidates, NRP of Hamat Bah has 24 candidates, and PDOIS of
Halifa Sallah has 22 candidates. There are 41 independent candidates.
Polling
starts tomorrow at 8am and ends at 4pm.
Those in the queue at 4pm will be allowed to vote, and those who came
late after 4pm will not be allowed to vote.
The
Gambia’s electoral system is unique in the world; as it is marble used to cast
a vote. A voter is allowed to cast one marble
as his/her vote, by dropping it in a drum through a hole on the top of the
drum. When the marble is dropped in it makes a sound to indicate that the vote
is cast.
Results
are expected to be broadcast tomorrow night on TV and radios till Friday. It should
be noted that tomorrow Thursday and Friday are public holidays because of the
parliamentary elections.
