Source closed to Manduar Village, in the West Coast Region of the country, has hinted heightening tensions among the villagers at the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) registration center located in Mandaur village.
The source stated that tensions broke out at the registration center when members of Manduar Village Development Committee (VDC) and scores of youths of the village intervene to prevent the registration of some voter’s card applicants whose attestation letters were signed by one Babucarr Secka who claimed to be the Alkali of Touba Manduar.
Source also said the tensions broke out when self-proclaimed Alkalo of Touba Manduar and his supporters insisted that his signatures on the attestation letters have to be accepted, adding that this was the time when both members of the Manduar VDC and scores of youths insisted that the IEC team stationed at the registration centre cannot register any resident under the name of Touba Mandaur.
The source further revealed that the situation triggered the intervention of both the Independent Electoral Commission and the Governor of West Coast Region to calm the tensions, adding that Paramilitary Police personnel were also deployed at the scene.
“It’s true that there were some tensions at the registration center but the matter is under control through the timely intervention of the IEC and Governor Lamin Sanneh of West Coast Region. It was over an issue of attestation letters that were signed by one Babucarr Secka who claimed that he is the Alkali of Touba Mandaur which the villagers were totally against, because Touba Mandaur is a Kabilo not a village,” said Albino Gomez, member Village Development Committee, Mandaur Village.
He said the matter has was put under control and registration process went on , adding that the matter was not between political parties or government but between Manduar Villagers who insisted that any attestation letter coming from the self-proclaimed Alkali of Touba Manduar must be regarded null and viod.
Pa Maka Khan, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Independent Electoral Commission confirmed the standoff, disclosing that IEC official were on the ground in time to quell the tensions and restore calm and normalcy.
He said though security officers were deployed to the scene but no arrest or detention was conducted.