By Awa Sowe
The Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has recently revealed the schedule for the local government elections in 2023. The schedule will see to the election of ward councilors, chairpersons of area councils, and mayors across the country.
Mr Alieu Momar Njie made this revelation at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre at Bijilo. He declared that the Local Government Elections are slated for 15th April, 2023 and 20th May, 2023. Election for Councilors for the 120 wards will be held on the 15th April, 2023 while that of chairpersons, mayors in the eight Local Government Areas will be held on the 20th May, 2023.
“The commission has decided to fix different dates for these sets of elections considering legal requirements,” IEC Chairman revealed.
He added that the conducts of Local Government Elections are prescribed to be held twelve months after National Assembly elections. Furthermore, such decision is also informed by vital militating factors such as logistics, transparency, and integrity of the process.
Chairman Njie also disclosed that the IEC has registered nineteen parties with the addition of a new political party that has completed its registration process, noting that the new party called People’s Alliance Party (PAP) was registered on the 7th November 2022, by the Commission and that the party leader is Ebrima Tabora Manneh.
He used the opportunity to remind all political parties’ requirements and responsibilities towards the promotion of peace and tolerance and to fully observe the laws of the land. Political parties were also reminded that they are required to hold biennial congresses, to provide the Commission with the list of elected party executives, addresses of their regional offices and audited accounts.
He further reassured electorate and stakeholders of the commission’s continued commitment to deliver free, fair, and credible elections to Gambians at all times.
He expressed the Commission’s appreciation to political parties, candidates, CSOs, media, government, local authorities, police, observer groups, development partners, and above all the electorate for their support in previous elections, and that the Commission is of the fervent hope that such remarkable support will be maintained.
Vice Chairman (ICE ) Mr Joseph Mendy, reiterated that except for the newly registered political parties, any political party that failed to host congress by December will be reprimanded according to the existing laws, noting that there is only one Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC) party existing in the country that is being led by Fabakary Tombong Jatta.
“I was the IEC official at their last congress where they selected a new executive led by Fakabakary Tombong Jatta and this is the APRC we (IEC) are dealing with,” IEC vice Chair clarified.
He said former President Yahya Jammeh has no powers to remove any executive member of the APRC neither do anyone have such powers, adding that it is through political party congress that such decisions are taken but not by individuals.
