By: Mariama Njie
Some political leaders in the country are currently engaging in a two-day validation summit of the election draft Bill 2020 which seeks to amend the electoral laws in the country.
The meeting was organized by Independent Electoral Commission in partnership with Ministry of Justice.
Cherno Marena, Solicitor General and Legal Secretary at Ministry of Justice described the summit as a “unique opportunity for political parties to shape the election law of this country.” Saying “that is the reason why the ministry of justice drafted the current election law based on the inputs provided by Independent Electoral Commission.”
According to him the current election law of The Gambia is the byproduct of the election degree of the 1996, and it is being 24 years now since the law has been used.
He emphasised that the validation meeting is basically an opportunity for political parties and stakeholders generally to really finalize the new election law that is going to guide the Gambia in the next election cycle.
He said the new election law “is not very different from the old law – except they have a lot of new innovations which were proposed by the Independent Electoral Commission.”
But he added that one of the major elements of the new law is the movement from ballot tokens to ballot papers. And also, the voter’s register procedure has also changed a bit, there are lot of changes.
He explained that in the old law there is no provision for referendum but this new law has now stipulated the provision of a referendum whenever it may happen in The Gambia.
IEC chairman Alieu Momarr Njie said the summit is very important for the Bill meant to be reviewed by the political parties themselves and give out recommendation which will be included as they are hoping to have a fair play election.
“We hope to come together at the end of two-day meeting, because we are making laws which will inquire all aspects of electoral processes,” he added.