By Landing Colley
Politician, Human Right Activist has reacted to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) postponement of voter registration which was set to commence on 14th January 2021.
The nationwide voter registration was deferred by IEC over logistic challenges beyond electoral body control.
A statement signed by IEC Chairman Alieu Momarr Njai said: “The Independent Electoral Commission hereby wishes to notify the general public that due to logistic challenges beyond control, the general registration of voter’s exercise which was schedule to commence 14th January 2021 has been postponed till further notice. The new date for the voter registration will be announced in due course.”
Reacting to the postponement, opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) Almam Fading Taal said: “It is a very worrying tendency on IEC and we are in the election year. Nobody was forcing them and all of sudden to postponed voter registration because of logistic problem until further notice is very worrying.”
He emphasized that this sign of indecision from the IEC that has four to five years to prepare for this important process, saying that an institution should not issue a statement within a period of three weeks and changes its statement when they had already fixed a date.
“It is not good enough to come out with a statement like further notice, logistic reason, they should point out the problem clearly so that solution can be found to those problems but ICE want to be stock into the 21 century of managing offices.
People have started mobilizing resources making sure that this process goes smoothly and transparent as possible, but is a worrying sign coming from the IEC,” he said.
He added: “We have heard people supporting Adama Barrow on platform encouraging non Gambians to register and these are the things we believe the IEC should have come out very strongly about those pronouncements.”
Meanwhile, he stressed that are they concern about the conduct of IEC since the change of government adding that there are reasons that Gambians deserve credible registration process and fair election.
He urged all political parties to unite together in order to ensure that this process is transparent and credible as this is an institution that is setup by laws that should serve the interest of the Gambian people.
Human rights lawyer Assan Martin said: “this announcement coming from IEC is a disappointing message to Gambians after four years. What we expected from the IEC was at least to know that after five years we are going into election and all the resources and logistic have been put in place.”
“This demonstrates poor leadership of governance, because IEC is an institution that deserves to be reform but some of us believe that the reform will come in the next new government.
“Is disappointing message to postponed the registration as most Gambians are going in for new voter cards during this registration and the IEC are saying further notice which has left Gambians in limbo.
“We don’t know when but I hope is not going to be beyond three month for us to get registration in place because if not the whole entire system will be messy,” said the activist
According to him, as the country is in its final year of presidential election, this has shown that IEC is not ready to conduct election which is not good as a democratic country.
However, he stressed this issue is not about IEC been transparent or not but it is the responsibility of stakeholder, political parties and official to ensure that election is held free and fair.
The activist said: “If IEC are not transparent in the election process that will be a disaster for our democracy which will bring a national problem because nobody should be denied their voting rights
For his part, Dr Ismaila Ceesay, presidential candidate Citizens Alliance (CA) demanded that IEC explains to the general about the logistical challenges pushed the electoral body to postpone the January 14th voter registration.
He said: “This is a shocking development. The IEC must without delay inform the general public what these logistical challenges are. Transparency is vital for the integrity of the entire electoral process.
“We also urge the IEC to, without delay, announce a new and more realistic voter registration dates.
“You cannot postpone an important national project like this until further notice leaving the general public in limbo.”
