Speaking during an interview on Coffee Time with Peter Gomez, Sawo said his decision to attend the United Democratic Party’s (UDP) press conference on the issue was driven by national interest rather than politics.
“We needed to make sure every voter is registered because it defeats the whole purpose,” he said.
Sawo said the concerns raised by the UDP deserved attention after the party claimed to have identified omissions in the voter register through its own review. He noted that while the IEC acknowledged that about 3,000 names had initially been omitted due to what it described as a technical glitch, the opposition maintained that the problem extended beyond a single incident.
“If UDP did their homework and found these issues, then we need more time so people can file their appeals and get everything together,” he said.
According to Sawo, the matter should concern every Gambian, regardless of political affiliation, because anyone who registered during the supplementary voter registration exercise could potentially be affected.
“Nenneh and I both registered. Maybe I’m also omitted from the list. I don’t know. Maybe she’s also omitted,” he said.
The GEP leader stressed that political parties could spend months campaigning and mobilising supporters, but those efforts would mean little if eligible voters were unable to cast their ballots.
“We need to make sure the elections are completely free and fair,” he said.
Sawo also questioned why the issue became controversial after he attended the UDP press conference, insisting that electoral integrity transcends party politics.
“I felt it was a national issue. People are getting impacted here,” he said.
He urged the IEC to release the full list of registered voters to avoid errors in elections
He maintained that protecting every eligible voter’s right to vote should remain the priority, saying confidence in the electoral process depends on ensuring no qualified voter is unfairly left off the register.
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