By SulaymanWaan
The program officer for West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP)- The Gambia has said the Niamina West Constituency and Kerr Jarga Ward by-election was transparent, fair, and relatively peaceful.
Modou Bah was speaking at a press conference organized by Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Coalition on Elections spearheaded by WANEP- The Gambia; held at Tango conference hall on Monday, which aimed to update the public on WANEP observations on Niamina West Constituency and Kerr Jarga Ward by-election.
“The counting of the ballot was transparent in compliance with counting procedures. Counting of votes was done on the spot in the respective polling stations. In some polling stations, the lack of adequate and emergency lighting to overcome power cut was observed,” he added.
Nevertheless, he noted that the presence of unauthorized persons was noticed in some polling stations.
“Our opinion in light of our observation of voting on Election Day both in Niamina West Constituency and Kerr Jarga Ward, the CSO Coalition wishes to state that the election was free and transparent.
“This is because electorates were able to cast their ballot without any force. No electorate was prevented to cast his or her ballot while no one faced any reprisal after casting his or her ballot,” he said.
However, he said the fairness of the election was undermined by overwhelming presence of top Government ministers and public officials such as presidential advisors in the campaign and on Election Day in favour of the Nation People Party (NPP) candidate.
“Such large official presence in a local election served to provide undue advantage to one candidate against another. That notwithstanding the CSO Coalition maintains that the elections in both places reflected the will of the people,” he added.
“As a by-election in a remote locality, the CSO Coalition holds that election must be left to only the parties and candidates to handle. By bringing in a huge army of public officials with the attendant resources, it meant the NPP candidate has obtained a huge advantage that would have significantly influenced voters.”
He recommended the government to review the involvement of ministers in partisan politics, especially if it has to do with elections of National Assembly members and local councilors.
“To strengthen the effective representation and enhance democratic culture, it is advisable that Ministers and the President limit their involvement in elections of local representatives to give chance to electorates to decide their own local issues,” he said.
He confirmed that both NPP and GDC were engaged on home campaign to canvas votes after IEC instructional time ends.
Mar Nyang, executive director for Gambia Participate said no political party should campaign on an election day. However, he explained how the two political parties embarked on a campaign on the Election Day.
He said: “The GDC candidate mention that during the pooling day he saw members of NPP campaigning. He reported that to IEC and according to GDC candidate the IEC said it cannot stop them. As a result, the GDC decided to enforce their team to go into communities and campaign.”
Nyang said there were widespread allegations of NPP buying voters but the CSOs coalition on elections cannot ascertain allegations.
Meanwhile, he said the IEC did a good work as the by-election was transparent and fair.
He said IEC should have deployed sufficient security personnel to control the election well.
MomodouJajuJallow from peace ambassador said the IEC should have reacted absolutely as soon as the GDC candidate called their attention concerning NPP embarking on home campaigns after instructional hour.
Bakary Sonko, rep of the National Youth Parliament said the manner security officers arrived in some polling station can trigger panic to electorate, saying there is a need for the government to train security officers on election security.
