From an expired national identity card to questions over dual citizenship, presidential aspirants Alieu Sowe and Bakusa Dukureh faced scrutiny over their eligibility and outstanding requirements as they submitted their nomination papers to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) ahead of the 2026 presidential election.
Sowe, a retired Major contesting as an independent candidate, presented his birth certificate, educational documents, voter’s card, nomination forms and a list of at least 5,000 supporters, subject to verification.
However, the IEC identified several outstanding requirements, including the D1 million nomination deposit, an income tax clearance certificate, campaign itinerary and an approved campaign colour.
The Commission also asked him to correct documents describing him as a retired Major and identifying the Gambia Mbeh Killing Movement as his sponsoring organisation, explaining that he was contesting independently.
During the process, Sowe presented an expired national identity card. Asked about it, he said he had not renewed the document because of the difficulties people faced obtaining ID cards at the time. He confirmed that he was Gambian by birth and did not hold any other nationality.
Speaking to journalists, Sowe said his decision to contest was driven by the need to address challenges facing the country, particularly security and peace. He promised that within 30 days of assuming office, Gambians would be able to move around with valuable belongings, including iPhones, without fear of criminals.
Meanwhile, Gambia Labour Party presidential aspirant Bakusa Dukureh, 48, submitted his credentials after paying the D1 million nomination deposit.
Dukureh, who reportedly lived in the United States for 26 years, holds Gambian and American citizenship. Asked whether he was prepared to renounce his American citizenship, he told journalists that he would not give it up anytime soon.
Some of his outstanding requirements included an income tax clearance certificate, signature on the Code of Election Campaign Ethics, original certificates and party-related documents.
National Builders Party leader Ansu Sanneh also submitted his nomination papers, just seven weeks after his party was registered on September 17.
His proposed development agenda includes building a new city near the River Gambia, establishing a regional airport in the Upper River Region, additional ferry crossings and affordable housing.
At his party’s launch last month, Sanneh said the country could not be built on empty talks, insisting that the NBP had a clear development blueprint.
