By Binta Jaiteh
The Independent Electoral Commission has disclosed that they millions of dalasis are spent on presidential ballot drums while assuring a ree and fair election.
Speaking at a media update about recently concluded voter registration, Alieu Momarr Njie, Chairman IEC echoed that “Election Day is 4th December, the drum boxes have cost the IEC over D2 million per candidate it is expensive and logistically (it is) a nightmare (as) most of the countries are using paper ballot and soon it will be introduced.”
Mr Njai however said that: “no authority can derail system of IEC and the election results and that assuring Gambians that elections will be free and transparent. And after having political interface with the political parties, the commission (now) invites media houses for interaction by updating them about what had happened during the voter registration.”
According to him, elections start with voting and to vote you must have a voter’s card, “what I always tell people outside the country is that some of the African countries do emulate the electoral process of The Gambia.
“Because we allow parties from everywhere to observe the voter process and if any inconvenience they should report. Election Day we will invite parties to come and witness the voting system when the ballot drums are open and after voting before counting party agents and IEC will observe.
“Party agents will also sign so that there will not be conflict, no authority can influence the voting pattern of the IEC because it will be done in the presence of all the parties and sign the results of that polling station. It will be free and transparent not like the 2016 elections where you have three contestants but this regime is multiple parties to contest,” he added.
“There are 18 legally registered political parties, 4 applications in the process and 12 independents aspired for presidency. He added that the campaign period will start from 9th November to 2nd December respectively,” Samboujang Njie, chief electoral officer IEC said.
