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Momodou
Denmark
11833 Posts |
 Posted - 27 Oct 2006 : 21:15:21
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IRREGULARITIES DURING POLLING
By Joseph Sirjo
As the people of this nation exercise their right again by going to the polls to select a leader who will be entrusted with the affairs of the nation for the next five years, there have been irregularities in some parts of the country that have marred the process. This reporter visited four polling stations to gather information in the national interest. At polling station B83A at Serrekunda School he met representatives of various parties and asked them if the polls went on well. The NADD agent immediately began by spelling out her objection why the APRC polling agents were being allowed by the IEC officials to have a list which was referred to as a supplementary list. According to her the APRC agents used this so called supplementary list to fish out names that did not appear in the main register. She claimed that one hundred and six (106) people were allowed to vote through their supplementary list. Another lady by the name Oumo at B83 polling station also at Serrekunda Lower Basic School, who also questioned the legality of the supplementary list by the APRC agents there, noted that one hundred and fifty (150 people were also allowed to vote through this paper.
Another issue, which they described as total disregard for the electoral laws, is the presence of the Alkalo of Serrekunda, Seedy Jobe, and other Yai compins at the Serrekunda School premises which had two polling stations. The agents described this as an act to influence voters. The IEC officials whom this reporter managed to speak to declined to give any information, noting they were not mandated to talk to the press.
At B85A polling station where former plaza cinema was locked the party agents where seen boarding a vehicle different from the one carrying their ballot boxes.
At Kololi, the Alkalo was seen camping not more than two hundred metres away from a polling station brewing “ataya.” As voters passed him he bombarded them with greetings and told them in Mandinka and Wollof that they should put it right inside. The agents allege that these actions of the Alkalo and his associates contravened the election laws. Reports have it that at another polling station Rasta Garden, Kololi at where there was no NADD representative numerous of soldiers were seen around the vicinity and inside the polling stations were they were met by other people and a quarrel broke out. The people this reporter spoke to complained bitterly, describing the soldiers’ presence as “an intent to harass and intimidate voters.
Other things this reporter sighted in most polling stations he visited were the high number of voter apathy and the presence of “ill experienced” polling agents for the various parties especially that of NADD and the UDP/NRP/GPDP.
At the Serrekunda East Mini Stadium where the IEC had one of its counting centres and Serrekunda West a lot of discontentment was manifested due to the presence of security personnel in very large numbers on every nearby street. Another thing was the lack of proper mobility for the IEC. Binta Colley, an Agent of NADD at B104 polling station Kololi Mosque A said they were left all by themselves until she had to call the IEC office to ‘remind them to come and pick them up as it was three hours since the official closing time and they were still not picked up.” She said they were picked up at 12 midnight.
Mr. LB. Bojang, an IEC presiding officer at Serrekunda East Mini Stadium harped on the commission’s unreliability and urged it to fulfill its promise to pay each officer on time instead of asking them to wait until the following day. Another officer who spoke on anonymity said they were contracted for four days at a tune of 150 dalasis per day and 125 for assistant presiding officers “but now that it is time for us to be paid they have started telling us all sorts of stories.”
This reporter contacted the IEC for their reaction. However, the Chief Electoral Officer declined to comment, noting that this happened a month ago.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No.92/2006, 27-29 October, 2006
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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
Posted - 27 Oct 2006 : 22:51:31
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They can say all these and yet their campaign coordinator [the Niamina Dankunku Big Snake] can shamelessly go on GTRS only to declare that Jammeh is a clear winner. What a nonsense!
GOD SAVE THE GAMBIA. |
I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
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dbaldeh
USA
934 Posts |
Posted - 28 Oct 2006 : 00:08:56
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The margins of victory makes such irregularities insignificant. One can argue on the contrary if the opposition had won atleast a few constituents. It was a sweep of the polls no matter how you look at it. We can cry all the tears we have, this election was a lost course from the outset.
There is no election that is perfect. The simple fact is that we have no one to blame but ourselves for our egos. Only an unrealistic person will challenge the ultimate outcome of the election. I hope we all learn from this political blunders and prepare ourselves for the future.
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Baldeh,
"Be the change you want to see in the world" Ghandi
Visit http://www.gainako.com for your daily news and politics |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 28 Oct 2006 : 02:03:38
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cAT AND MOUSE. bALDEH AND NYARINGNANA  |
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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
Posted - 28 Oct 2006 : 19:09:44
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If it was not a perfect election, why use the phrase 'a clear winner'. What a silly thing to do. I hope the Dankunku beast will honour his words below;
Juwara Hints At Political Retirement
Lamin Waa Juwara has hinted at political retirement, should the proposed opposition coalition fail to score resounding success against the ruling APRC in the 2006 Parliamentary and Presidential polls.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200410111260.html
God save the Gambia
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I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
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dbaldeh
USA
934 Posts |
Posted - 30 Oct 2006 : 01:52:12
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Kon - the cat and the mouse never get along. However, I and Nyarikangbanna agree to disagree on the political solution in the Gambia. You are right though we don't see eye to eye when it comes to the reality. He lives on fantasies and I try to make sense of the reality.
Nyarikangbanna, you take words out of context. Simply saying there was a clear winner is simple englist. That means the numbers are so black and white that one looks foolish contesting the results. No matter what statistics you use the numbers 67% and 27% cannot be confused by even a first grade Child.
You people are so angry about Wa juwara you cannot see beyond his words. He has become a political and social liability to your camp. You have let him get in your skins so deep that his presence alone was enough for your entire leadership to make the biggest political mistake in the century.
I cannot believe one man can be so intimidating to a whole organization. He must have touched on something so secret, so private to your leadership. This obviously tells me that if you cannot stand Mbarodi, how can you stand Jammeh's arsenals. May be with him gone, you can have a breathing room. |
Baldeh,
"Be the change you want to see in the world" Ghandi
Visit http://www.gainako.com for your daily news and politics |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 30 Oct 2006 : 10:48:16
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Waa should be given credit and considered a political martyrs. He has expressed himself on the principles and ideology he stands for, suffered harassment, torture, a political victim and political prisoner mecrilessly under AFPRC/APRC. Felt totally dissapointed to see him to be discredited for the simple reason that he is not in good terms with another opposition leadership and camps.
I would welcome to see his graceful retirement now in Gambian politics and allow the younger generation to continue. He does not deserved to be rewarded in certain ways of expressions. I expect to see a better generation to raise the bar in Gambian politics than Waa Juwara, Darboe and others as a challenge. Lets begin to face realities now and promote mutual trusts between us!; share our thoughts and stop undermining each other, to the detriment of the opposition and in favour of APRC. Its better to build on the strengths and improve upon the weaknesses of those in the forefront of Gambian politics especially the opposition parties. Weaknesses and disintegration of the opposition parties is destroying Gambian democracy. THINK ABOUT THAT???
Good luck Waa and best wishes to your good health (old man!) and prosperity to you and your family. |
Edited by - kobo on 30 Oct 2006 10:57:34 |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 30 Oct 2006 : 11:07:32
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News have reached me recently that from reliable source from Banjul that, there was a well coordinated activities of mobilising trucks for a certain ethnic group who were hosted and camped at Gambia Senior Secondary School (formerly Gambia High School); over hunderds to vote at the Banul polloing stations during presidential elections.
Informer alleged some irregularities! In my opinion the presiential elections is a forgone conclusion irrespective of those negative allegations. |
Edited by - kobo on 30 Oct 2006 11:13:29 |
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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
Posted - 30 Oct 2006 : 11:43:18
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Baldeh, we don’t need to stand him because he does not worth standing. UDP knows perfectly well, after their experience with the beast in 2001 Elections that the man is a complete spent force. Just have a close look at the Dankunku result. What you will find is a surplus votes for the UDP despite the unprecedented low voter turnout. Yes, we thought he was a liability and that is why he was shown the exit door. Since that unceremonious event, not even a single word was said by any UDP figure for or against the beast. They know where to invest their energy and resources and that doesn’t certainly include containing a spent force. That is the fact and that is the reality.
The fact that the margin is wide is not a license for any body to gloss the whole electoral process as having produced a clear winner. That is simply a silly thing to do. What any responsible analysts will do is to give the process a critical appraisal, and if at the end you conclude that the margin out-weighed the negatives and then goes on to affirm the result as declared by the electoral authorities then that is fair enough as a matter of opinion. That is what we have seen in the commonwealth report. The use of the phrase ‘a clear winner’ is a silly! silly! distortion that is only capable of being made by a beast and it is certainly peculiar to Juwara as far as Gambian Politics is concern. I hope he will honour is words below anyway.
Juwara Hints At Political Retirement
Lamin Waa Juwara has hinted at political retirement, should the proposed opposition coalition fail to score resounding success against the ruling APRC in the 2006 Parliamentary and Presidential polls.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200410111260.html
God save the Gambia
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I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
Posted - 30 Oct 2006 : 12:47:33
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Baldeh., I now prefer to use the phrase 'Spent horse' rather than 'spent force' because the former is the actual Orthordox English phrase.
Take note.
thanks
God save the Gambia. |
I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 30 Oct 2006 : 16:11:05
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With due respect to you Nyaringkangbana!
My intervention is mainly to advise you to please ignore grieviances and grudge mindedness to focus on how to revive a vibrant opposition to save Gambian democracy under present era.Castigating any individual opposition member or undermining another opposition party is always frustratiing, unproductive, doesn't help, only a futile exercise to deter progress of the opposition to achieve any meaningful success and common GOALS for development and democracy.
You are entitled to your opinions but just mitigating to advise you to re-think on new strategies and re-direct your energy and resources on more sound ideas to uplift the low morale, poor performance and impact of the opposition on Gambian democracy and rule of law. You need the experiences of the veterans to build on them as a SMART AND AGGRESSIVE GAMBIAN POLITICIAN! You have lots of potentials and it sound right to cooperate with any individual member that rally as an opposition against APRC. The old order have failed and expect you to suface and be counted amongst the new generation of dynamic Gambian politicians.
THATS OUR CHALLENGE TO SAVE THE GAMBIA UNDER RULE OF LAW AND PROPER DEMOCRACY! |
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Alhassan
Sweden
813 Posts |
Posted - 30 Oct 2006 : 16:33:48
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quote:
Originally posted by kobo
News have reached me recently that from reliable source from Banjul that, there was a well coordinated activities of mobilising trucks for a certain ethnic group who were hosted and camped at Gambia Senior Secondary School (formerly Gambia High School); over hunderds to vote at the Banul polloing stations during presidential elections.
Informer alleged some irregularities! In my opinion the presiential elections is a forgone conclusion irrespective of those negative allegations.
Are Gambians who live in the neighboring countries allowed to vote if registed? This question has been there since Fafa JAMANO. We used to say that the PPP brought people from Senegal to vote, but did'nt know if they were real Gambians or not. As we live in diaspora we would like to extend the excersise to them too. In that case , what sahould we be called, Gambians or what? Did the opposition make investigation to know who realy they were? Many Gamnbians married or living in Senegal do come home to vote. I have sisters married in Senegal who come back home to vote because they still are Gambians and possess Gambian Passports and ID cards. There is a lot of intermarriges between the two countries. |
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Seeno
7 Posts |
Posted - 30 Oct 2006 : 16:47:46
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I agree with Kobo that weakness and and disintegration of the opposition parties is destroying Gambian democracy. this is clearly manifested in the previous election when they cannot even come together as an alliance. Most of them are there for their interest and not that of the people of the Gambia. the 48% voter turnout is a clear show how betrayed Gambias felt by the opposition. they didn't even bother to vote because of dissapiontment by the opposition. We need fresh young minds to take over the opposition. Allah Bless Gambia
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dbaldeh
USA
934 Posts |
Posted - 30 Oct 2006 : 19:03:17
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I do humbly agree with Kobo and others that we should use our strength and learn from our weaknesses to better advance our political future in the Gambia. Politics of personality should be buried once and for all.
As for Nyarikanbanna, I still think you cannot stand Waa judging from your name calling. Anytime anyone calls somebody a beast that person really gets in your nerves. You can call Waa whatever name you want for standing against what he believe, but you cannot disagree that he is a brave man who speaks his mind.
I know this is something hard for you to swallow, but what he said against Darboe has been manifested over and over again. After the 2001 elections he stood against Darboe conceeding to the elections to Jammeh prematurely only to boycott the parliamentary election.
The whole world now know Darboe prematurely conceeded that election which was even closer than the one he is contesting now. Waa defied Darboe for abandoning his supporters after the 2001 results were announced when he allegely went to seek refuse at the Senegalese embassy while his field agents were yet to report to him.
Waa clearly indicates that Darboe has a terrible leadership weakness which the UDP does not deserve. Waa has been proven right on Darboe's leadership weakness when Darboe failed to strongly advocate for UDP's outright advantage in leading a party lead coalition.
How can you Nyarikangbanna explain how the UDP went from the most promising party to unseat Jammeh to this party that keep flip flopping between contesting and not contesting elections?
How can you explain and Justify the UDP conceeding elections in 2001 and later boycotting the parliamentary elections when Jammeh's margins of victory then were far smaller?
How can you explain any irregularities that occured during the 2006 elections that did not occur in 2001? Didn't Jammeh use the same tactic in 2001 and 2006 elections to butcher the opposition?
How could you explain Darboe and the UDP losing votes almost in every constituent that they won in 2001? How did they lose votes in constituents like Bakau, Badibu who have historically always voted for opposition?
How can you explain what is responsible for the rush to challenging the elections in court only to not take the case seriously and fight tooth and nail to the last minute?
Brother Nyarikangbanna, it is hard to swallow the truth when you have invested so much into a leader who you whole heartedly embrace in every way. The UDP was one time the most prominent political party in the Gambia, but today the UDP seems to be at a cross road fighting for its identity and what it really stand for. These can only be attributed to its leadership weakness.
So as much as you hate Waa, he has a point and many Gambians have seen the reasoning behind his grievance against Darboe in particular. Call him what names you want, but history has taken note of his position and he has made it clear. |
Baldeh,
"Be the change you want to see in the world" Ghandi
Visit http://www.gainako.com for your daily news and politics |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 30 Oct 2006 : 20:18:57
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| Diversed opinions and interactions of assessment of the Presidential elections from AllGambian.net Gambia: Opposition Mixed Messages And Missed Opportunities under http://allafrica.com/stories/200610301043.html |
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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
Posted - 31 Oct 2006 : 00:15:18
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Baldeh, you haven't said anything new. So, I better leave you with your noughts and ghastly ulterior motives. Lawyer Darboe this, Lawyer Darboe that. Good luck mate. Anyway, I pray that the Dankunku beast honour his words below;
Juwara Hints At Political Retirement
Lamin Waa Juwara has hinted at political retirement, should the proposed opposition coalition fail to score resounding success against the ruling APRC in the 2006 Parliamentary and Presidential polls.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200410111260.html
God save the Gambia
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I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
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