By Sainabou Sambou
The Inter Party Committee, Saturday at the Sir Dawda Jawara Conference Center, Kololi briefed the media about its code of conduct.
Musa Amul Nyassi, co-chairperson of the inter party committee (IPC) said In the IPC’s quest for political parties, their candidates and supporters should adhere to the highest standards of electioneering and to promote violence free election campaigns in the run up to the December 4 Presidential election
He added that the IPC has committed the leadership of the 18 registered political parties to sign a Peace Pledge, dubbed The Janjanbureh Peace Accord, which was developed during the 3rd IPC quarterly breakfast meeting on September 25th 2021 and revalidated at the 4th IPC Quarterly Breakfast meeting on October 26th with technical support from its development partners especially the UNDP, UNOWAS, NDI, RCO, OHCHR, AU and ECOWAS. The peace pledge signing ceremonies were officially witnessed by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
Moreover, he said, “the leaders of the 18 registered political parties have signed
the Peace Pledge including the President of the Republic, His Excellency, Adama
Barrow,” As soon as the ongoing nomination process is concluded by the IEC and
candidates for the presidential election emerge, all nominated independent
candidates will be requested to subscribe to the peace pledge as well”.
According to him IPC was established by political parties as a forum for dialogue and co-operation to promote adherence to its MOU and Code of Conduct, promote national reconciliation and ensure consensus building amongst political parties on contested political and electoral issues.
Since its establishment, the IPC has partnered with relevant stakeholders to conduct and participate in activities to ensure peaceful co-existence amongst political parties as key actors in national political and electoral processes.
He cited that the IPC inaugurated a youth and women’s branch as part of its efforts to ensure inclusive participation of women and youth at the IPC and party levels. The IPC and its partners organized a high level of national stakeholders’ forum where political leaders in the Gambia committed in the presence of national and international stakeholders to support peaceful and credible election in The Gambia with special emphasis on the need to avoid hate speech before and after Election Day.
Meanwhile, he said as campaigns are about to commence, the inter party committee urged every political actor in this election to honour the spot and letter of the inter party committee’s MOU, the IEC code on elections campaign ethics ,and the peace pledge to which party leaders have agreed.
“Candidates and their supporters in this election are also urged to accept the election results that will be announced by the IEC if adjudged to be free and fair and credible electoral process” he said.
