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Momodou
Denmark
11525 Posts |
 Posted - 27 Apr 2016 : 19:14:41
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IEC approves 8 political parties
The Point: Tuesday, April 26, 2016
 The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has announced the continued legal existence of eight political parties, while two others are deregistered and one dissolved.
The endorsement and deregistration of the political parties followed the 31 March 2016 deadline for all parties to regularise their status in line with the Elections Amendment Act, 2015.
The eight approved political parties, as contained in a press release issued by Election House yesterday, are the Alliance for Patriotic Re-Orientation and Construction (APRC), United Democratic Party (UDP), National Reconciliation Party (NRP), People’s Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS), National Convention Party (NCP), People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Gambia Moral Congress (GMC), and Gambia Party for Democracy and Progress (GPDP).
These parties have met “all the requirements and are bona fide political parties” registered with the Commission, the IEC said.
However, National Democratic Action Movement (NDAM) has not met the requirements and is thus not recognised as a party, likewise Gambia Democratic Party (GDP).
The commission explained that it had received a notification from the National Alliance for Democracy and Development (NADD) of its dissolution.
The Elections Amendment Act, 2015 has mandated the political parties in the country to get offices in all the seven administrative regions of the country and furnish the IEC with the addresses of the regional offices, as well as submit their audited accounts to the commission.
The amendment also makes it a requirement that the executive members of all political parties have to be resident in The Gambia.
It could now be confirmed that all the approved opposition parties have met the requirements of the Elections Amendment Act, 2015.
By-election
In a related development, the IEC will conduct a by-election to fill the vacant seat of Councillor for Sare Ngai Ward in the Basse Area Council on Thursday, 28 April 2016.
The election will be contested by Mr Karamo Touray of the APRC and Mr Lamin Fatty, an independent candidate.
According to the Elections Amendment Act 2015, polls will open at 8am and close at 5pm.
“Counting of votes will be done immediately after the close of polls and collation of results at the IEC Basse Regional Office,” the Election House said.
“For this by-election, those registered during the 2016 supplementary registration of voters will not be able to vote for there are still legal requirements to be fulfilled with the supplementary voter list,” it further stated.
Pertinent concerns about upcoming national elections
The Point Editorial: Wednesday, April 27, 2016
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has approved eight political parties as qualified to contest the upcoming December 1, 2016 Presidential Election and the following National Assembly elections on 6 April 2017 and Local Government elections on 12 April 2018.
This means the approved 8 have met “all the requirements and are bona fide political parties” registered with the Commission, except for two parties that have been disqualified and one dissolved.
This latest development has further allowed the IEC to set the pace for intensive electioneering to commence, leading to the voting day in about seven months’ time and thereby giving Gambians the opportunity to decide who they want to lead them or steer the affairs of the country.
Therefore, we would like to reiterate our concern that since we are a democratic society, there should be a level playing field for all, as we count down to voting day.
All political parties and/or politicians who have been approved to contest in the elections should be given equal access to the state media, and permitted to go around the country to conduct their affairs peacefully, even as we await the official election campaign period to be declared.
We should have in mind that both the public and private media should play their role by educating and informing the public.
As a democratic state and a signatory to Article 19 of the UN Charter, we should not wait until the election campaign period – which is usually two weeks to voting day - to allow political parties to have their affairs broadcast over the state media and in other private media outlets.
It should be noted that there is no second round in our election, according to the Election Act. What obtains in The Gambia is only an outright majority, which means that only a vote more than other contenders can decide the winner or the president-elect.
However, political analysts believe that a second round model with 51% majority of the votes, as it used to be in the country, should be revived since it could make a greater difference between those who are for and those against a winning presidential candidate.
It is also the model that obtains in many African countries.
As a nation counting down to presidential and general elections in 2016, 2017 and 2018, we should always endeavour to nurture and promote peace, as well as respect for one another.
We should as well desist from tribalism and using abusive language in our electioneering campaigns.
“I vote in every general election, but I’m not a party member or an ideologue. I’ve told anyone who I’ve voted for.”
Brian Lamb
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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IEC approves 8 political parties
