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| Alieu Momar Njie |
Please
be informed that the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) was established in
accordance with section 42 of the 1997 constitution of the Republic of The
Gambia. It operate within the confines of the Electoral Laws in the
Constitution (as amended), Electoral Act, (as amended) an the Local Government
Act 2002 (as amended).
Furthermore
more your appointed as the Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission is in
accordance with Section 42 of the Constitution. An election commission is a
body charged with overseeing the implementation of election procedures. Holding
periodic free and fair elections, essentials of a democratic system and a part
of the basic structure of the Constitution. The Election Commission is regarded
as the guardian of elections in the Republic of The Gambia.
Be
reminded that the December, 2016 election. The day after the votes were casted your
high office announced to the nation that Barrow and the coalition had won.
Jammeh initially conceded defeat, but a week later he shortly reversed his
position and refused to hand over power, thrusting the country into a period of
uncertainty ‘the impasse’. As a result of your Institution announcing two
different results.
The
tragedy was the day after the election when clashes broke out on the main road
between UDP and APRC supporters in Sibanor. Stones were thrown and multiple
houses were damaged before the police arrived. During the impasse political
tension seeped into everyday life in communities across the country. Many
reported that political arguments turned into scuffles in the markets.
Allegedly some even stopped attending the traditional ceremonies of their
political rivals. The impasse ended and the tension eased when Jammeh fled in
late January to Equatorial Guinea, but the cornerstone of communal tension had
been laid.
The
last time I checked on Friday you announced that the United Democratic Party
(UDP) got 62 seats, the Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC) 23, the Alliance for
Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC) 18 seats, PDOIS 7 seats, Gambia
Moral Congress (GMC) 1 seat, National Reconciliation Party (NRP) 5 seats, while
NCP and GPDP did not win any seat and three seats won by independent
candidates.
Surprisingly
enough days later you took another U turn to release another results, which
showed that the opposition APRC won 16 instead of 18 seats, and so did the GDC,
which pulled a total of 25 seats and not 23 as previously announced by your
same institution.
Of
latest I learnt that the office of the independent candidate Mr. Mohamadou Musa
Njie, was approached by your high office to drop the official colour (Grey) which
was approved by your same institution (IEC) for the mayoral election of the
Kanifing Municipality, 2018?. Such errors should not be encouraged as it can
lead to electoral violence.
The
real trick to good governance is to place the needs of the masses above
everything else, to lead not just with words but with action. Actions define
priorities. It’s the only way the IEC can successfully bring us the long sought
dividend of democracy.
In
conclusion I write to join my voice with men of goodwill who have spoken to you
in private and public on the election and other issues associated with it. I am
courageous to say that this is in the interest of the Gambians.
A Luta
Continua!
Saidina Alieu Jarjou
Political Activist
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