The event was held on Tuesday at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre.
The event was held under the theme- ‘Pre-Election Dialogue for Party leaders: Concerns and Recommendations for a peaceful presidential poll in December 2021.
Kebba Jallow, leader of People’s Progressive Party (PPP) said that IPC is well prepared in making sure that The Gambia staged peaceful elections. To ensure that, he said, they’ve organised series of trainings among political parties across the country, saying the country can have a very peaceful, fair and transparent elections in The Gambia.
Jallow thus advised political party leaders to always advocate for peace during and after the election for a betterment Gambia.
Mai Ahmed Fatty, leader of Gambia Moral Congress (GMC) said the Gambia is in transition and the new nation is building up.
“The political party leaders have the challenges to keep the country together by advocating for the peace and stability of the country.”
According to him, his party is guided by the moral principle because the party supporters have never insulted any of the party leaders in The Gambia.
Fabakary Tombong Jatta, leader of Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC), said The Gambia is one of the most peaceful countries in the world and that the political party leaders are very critical for peace in the country.
“We will never encourage any political violence in this country and if we follow the electoral laws and code of conducts, we are going to have peaceful election come December.
Lamin B. Dibba of the National Convention Party (NCP), said that political party leaders have a big responsibility to advocate for peace and stability in the Gambia during and after the elections.
He therefore, called on the party leaders to send the message that will not encourage violence in the country.
These parties, he added, should be democrat in nature by empowering women in the decision making process as women play a key role in the electoral process in the Gambia.
Halifa Sallah, IPC co-chair and the leader of The People’s Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS), said the dialogue should continue in order to have peaceful, free and fair elections in The Gambia.
“Everyone is equal in this country because each Gambian has one vote to cast and for that being the case, there is no minority in The Gambia.”
Also speaking, Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, leader of Citizen Alliance (CA) expressed his party’s commitment to ensuring peaceful and credible elections in The Gambia.
Dr. Ceesay urged media practitioners in The Gambia and outside to report responsibly to avoid inciting violence during and after the electoral process.
