Democratic Party leader Yusupha A. Dumbuya has promised to reduce the cost of renting a two-bedroom house in The Gambia to D2,000 if elected president, despite facing questions from the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) over missing documents during his nomination on Wednesday.
Dumbuya told journalists that his government would introduce a law to regulate rental prices, proposing D2,000 for a two-bedroom house and D4,000 for a well-maintained three-bedroom house, with government subsidies supporting the plan.
“We want to bring this two-bedroom to D2,000. And if you fix your house very well, three-bedroom and everything, we are going to charge you D4,000. The government will subsidise this. We can do it, and I know how to do it,” he said.
However, his own presidential bid encountered difficulties after IEC Chairman Joseph Colley, acting as Returning Officer, raised concerns about his nomination documents.
Dumbuya failed to present his voter’s card and Senior Secondary School Certificate, although he said he possessed the latter. The Commission also questioned the absence of proof of payment of the D1 million nomination fee and asked him to resolve inconsistencies in his name across the submitted documents.
His nomination remained subject to the submission and verification of the outstanding requirements.
Despite the setback, Dumbuya used the occasion to criticise the government over its failure to deliver a new constitution, promising to pursue constitutional term limits if elected.
Meanwhile, former Vice President Dr Isatou Touray filed her nomination as an independent candidate, calling for leadership that listens, functioning institutions, fair opportunities and a government that takes its responsibilities seriously.
“Our people are not asking for miracles,” she said, adding that her experience in public service had given her firsthand knowledge of the country’s challenges.
Touray is among those seeking to challenge President Adama Barrow in the December 5 presidential election.
