“By the agreement, the six political parties have agreed to ensure the safety of electoral officials from any form of threats, abuse and violence to cooperate with IEC and law enforcement institutions to act professionally in investigating electoral dispute whether at the polling station or communities among others and also to accept the result of election as announced by the IEC and also to refrain supporters from violence in the aftermath of the election. They also agree to resort to judicial process to address dispute which may arise from the election.”
The leader of the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) Ousainou Darboe, Independent candidate Essa Mbaye Faal, Abdoulie Jammeh of National Unity Party signed the Code of Conduct on behalf of their respective parties, while the minister of Trade Regional Integration and Employment Seedy Keita signed the code of conduct on behalf of President Barrow’s National People’s Party (NPP) and Amadou Kah, 2nd National Party leader signed it on behalf of the Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC). Halifa Sallah, who was not present on the occasion also signed the agreement earlier on Thursday.
The signing ceremony, held at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre was also witnessed by H.E Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, the Chairman of the IEC, members of the diplomatic corps and religious leaders a among host of other significant stakeholders.
Former speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Elizabeth Renner, who was read the code of conduct that was signed “The code of conduct is not something that is coming from abroad but it’s something that belongs to all Gambians. Therefore, even though the candidates are going to sign, I believe every Gambian is a custodian of this code of conduct. Every Gambian has the responsibility in ensuring that the country is peaceful,” she said, adding: “With peaceful election “we will definitely have a peaceful result and a peaceful country of which we can develop.”
Reading the preamble of the agreement, she said: “We the candidates to the December 4th 2021 presidential election of The Gambia and have been duly certified by the IEC to contest the election met at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre on this 11th day of November 2021 at the instance of Gambian population in order to secure peaceful election and the judicial resolution of electoral dispute expressing our appreciation to the ECOWAS, AU, UN, U.K, EU and other partners and International IDEA for their support to this process, reaffirming to this commitment on the tenant of the constitution of The Gambia, the election Act, the inter-party MOU Code of Conduct, being committed to taking all appropriate measures to consolidate our democracy and to preserve The Gambia well deserved reputation as a haven of peace, stability and constitutionalism in the African continent and renewing our deep commitment to peace in all our political activities before, during and after the election. We hereby declare “to publicly condemn violence, intimidation during the election process, to refrain from and condemn the use of religious, sectarian, ethic and tribal politics to campaign and among others.”
According to her, the political parties also agreed to refrain from making any statements that have the potential of ethnic, tribal and religious sentiment and which could affect the election process, for parties to strongly condemn all political violence whether perpetrated by ourselves, our supporters or our opponents, to cooperate with the IEC and other political parties in ensuring that orderly reschedule of political activities in order to avoid political clashes during rallies or other activities at villages or towns.
H.E Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas said: “The signing of the code of conduct by the candidates is historic. This is the first time in the history of the country. This year’s election is unique for the fact that it is taking place in a new democratic space.”
