By Mama A. Touray
Gambia Participates has disclosed that thirty –six (36) percent of its election observer team witnessed the active participation of public servants in campaigns during the just concluded Chairmanship and Mayoral elections.
This was revealed by Gambia Participates Programs Manager Annetta BB Mahoney, at a pre-election media briefing held at Bakadaji Hotel.
Speaking to the media Annetta BB Mahoney revealed that Gambia Participates observers witnessed instances of non-elected government officials (i.e. civil servants) and/or government employees using their influence to support or campaign for a particular party or candidate, despite being prohibited by law, and that 36% of the observers witnessed the active participation of public servants in political campaigns during official working hours.
“In the first reporting period, 21% witnessed the active participation of ministers, 19% witnessed the participation of other government officials (including local government authorities) and 4% witnessed the participation of Permanent Secretaries in political campaigns during official working hours. In the second reporting period (May 12-18) 14% and 16% of observers witnessed the active participation of ministers and other government officials in political campaigns during official working hours,” she disclosed.
She further disclosed that 28% of Long Term Observers witnessed the use of public resources/properties during political activities and these were most prevalent in Banjul Central, Banjul South, Niamina Dankunku, Niamina West, Serekunda West, Kiang East, Central Baddibu, Illiasa, Lower Baddibu, Sabach Sanjal, Foni Bintang, Foni Jarrol, Kombo East, Kombo South, and Kiang Central Constituencies.
Mahoney continued that: “34% of Long term Observers witnessed the use of state and local government-owned vehicles for political campaigns and 4% witnessed the use of state media for political campaigns. In the second reporting period (May 12-18) LTOs reported the abuse of state resources in Niani, Jarra West, Kiang East, Lower Baddibu, Brikama South, Foni Jarrol, Kombo South, and Kiang Central Constituencies. 29% of Long term Observers witnessed the use of state-owned vehicles for political campaigns.”
However, Gambia Participates called on the Independent Electoral Commission to investigate all breaches of the Electoral Code of Conduct, including politically motivated violence, abuse of state resources for campaign purposes, and inducements (handouts), all of which observers reported have occurred at various levels.
Meanwhile, Gambia Participates mid-day election report Annetta also revealed that their observer at Tallinding Dutokoto (Polling Code 20201) was harassed by voters, the IEC Presiding Officer, and a security official for documenting evidence of incidents unfolding at the polling station. The said Police Officer stationed at the polling station according to her threatened and coerced the observer to get rid of the evidence she had collected.
She stated that Party agents violently disrupted the voting process in the Senegambia polling station, which she said was triggered by the refusal of the IEC presiding officer to recount the ballot tokens for a second time before the commencement of voting. The IEC official eventually recounted the tokens and the process continued.
“An incident of vote buying involving agents for the NPP was reported at the July 22nd polling station in Banjul Central. The party agent was seen handing out money to voters. Observers also reported an incident of vote buying involving party agents for the National People’s Party in Bundunkga Kunda polling station in Kanifing and the agents were seen handing out cash to voters in exchange for their votes,” she revealed.