By: Amadou Bah
Alieu Momar Njai, chairman Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has vowed out his frustration over the continue isolation of his office by the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC), Ministry of Justice and the National Assembly over matters of election.
Addressing the National Assembly select committee on Local Government, Land, IEC and Ombudsman on Monday, Njai said he shock to read in local newspaper that Constitutional Review Commission organized political dialogue with various political parties on May 11, 2019, without the involvement of the IEC.
He pointed out that the meeting focus on election and electoral matters, but his office was not informed.
Mr. Samboujang Njie, chief electoral officer (CEO) IEC told the delegation that from the establishment of CRC to the beginning of it work the IEC send a position paper to requesting consultation when the need arises.
“As we speak, no official response has been received from officials at CRC, we are more than willing to engage and we have resolved now whether they come to meet us or not we are going to meet them. Because what they are doing has a great impact on us and we cannot sit and relaxed,” Njie outlined.
He urged that the IEC is the only body mandated in the country to conduct and organise election, noting that office need to consult on all election.
He pointed out that similar occurrence happened in 2017 when Section (192) of the Constitution was change to paved way for the election of chairperson of the local councils, stressing that they were not informed but they understood.
“Should this continue and if the left don’t know what the right is doing it could result to some impasse in the near future. Recently the ministry of Justice organised all political parties meeting on electoral reform without informing the IEC,” he noted.
He also said that there is nobody in the country that know about election more than IEC, pointing that the IEC has conducted election for the past 20 years and it officials has been taken part in election monitoring or observation in difference countries around the world.
He noted that government is responsible for policy issues but policy always inform and imitate by issues and this issues are with IEC.
