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Momodou
Denmark
11779 Posts |
 Posted - 01 Feb 2007 : 01:32:23
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CANDIDATES DISATISFIED WITH VOTER TURN OUT
By Amie Sanneh
Candidates within the Serrekunda East and Jeshwang Ward constituencies, who contested for the National Assembly Elections, have expressed dissatisfaction with the turn out of voters.
They described the turn out of voters as “poor.”
The UDP candidate for Serrekunda East, Bunambass Congira, expressed satisfaction in the manner and way the IEC conducted the voting process. “But I’m not satisfied with the turn out of voters, even during the campaign periods,” he said.
He gave his reasons for the low turn out of voters as, “People who are discouraged due to the way the presidential elections went.” Mr. Congira added that, “People also think that parliamentary elections are not important which is why they did not turn out to vote.”
He however thanked God for the peaceful atmosphere but noted that the only sad news he had was that one of his supporters, (Kebba Demba Ceesay) was arrested a day before the elections.
Also speaking to these reporters, the APRC candidate Fabakary Tombong Jatta after casting his vote said he was concerned about the low turn out of voters, “People may believe that in the morning there will be long queues so they may decide to wait till in the afternoon,” he said.
Mr. Jatta however described the election process as peaceful and commended the electorate for allowing him to contest for a third term. Pa Sainey Jallow, the Independent candidate for Serrekunda East also speaking to Foroyaa after casting his vote, described the voting process as peaceful but expressed dismay about the low turn out of voters, “Gambians will wait up to the eleventh hour before they come out in their numbers,” he said. He further explained that “At this moment maybe people are busy with their domestic work,” he remarked.
Mr. Jallow pointed out that some would prefer to wait till after the two O’clock prayers or after lunch.
“Elections” he said “come and go but the people remain.” Thus, he advised the people to join hands towards the development of the country after elections. At the Jeshwang Constituency I spoke to the UDP candidate, Junkungba Dukureh, who also said the turn out of voters was disappointing, “It might be a punishment,” he said. He however remarked that it is their democratic right not to come out to vote.
“We have been sensitising the electorate but you see they did not turn out,” he said “Gambians do not pay regard to parliamentary elections. It is only the presidential election that they regard,” he remarked.
The UDP candidate noted that people should respect themselves by coming out and voting. “You can only fight your right by voting,” said Mr. Dukureh.
He also described the voting process as peaceful.
Efforts were made to get in touch with the APRC candidate for Jeshwang, Haddy Jagne, for her opinion. This reporter however visited her house twice but never meet her there.
According to most of the presiding officers at the polling stations in the two constituencies I visited, the turnout was as poor but they noted that no problem was encountered.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 012/2007, 31st January – 2nd February, 2007
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