This is another reminder to the three tenors at the IEC, that they
manipulate the By-elections at a risk to their lives.  The people are not
going to tolerate any crap from Jammeh or the IEC. The role of the IEC is to
conduct free and fair elections, and not to be the lapdog of Yaya Jammeh.
Yaya might just be ready for the Gambian civil war if he thinks that this is
going to be business as usual.  He better be ready to kill a whole lot of
folks if that is what he is banking on, and be killed in return.  It is only
the voters that are going to decide the verdict and it better be free and
fare.  It is now in the hands of Gambians both at home and abroad to decide
their faith.  If you do not vote for NADD, then you must live with the
arrangement you chose.  If you do not send a dime to NADD for your own
reasons, then it would be dishonest of us to comment on what obtains next,
because it would be by our own doing.  If you cannot even invest $50 for
your own liberation then you deserve anything that is lobbed your way, and
trust me, it is not going to be pretty.  We, the people are going to
determine the outcome of this by-elections, so where do you hang your hat?
If it is on NADD, then vote for them and contribute to their financial
campaign.  Its now in our hands folks.


Acid Test For IEC


The Independent (Banjul)

EDITORIAL
September 12, 2005
Posted to the web September 12, 2005

Banjul

The September 29th by-elections in Jarra West, Serekunda Central, Upper
Saloum and Wuli West are no doubt an acid test for the handpicked electoral
commission members.

Their credibility or true colour would be judged by the way and manner they
coordinate the affairs before, during and after the elections.


Since the appointment of the new executive, some political pundits have
questioned the impartiality of a commission whose officers include a former
Secretary of State for Agriculture, Sulayman Sait Mboob. It would not
surprise people if such a person bends the law principally to satisfy the
interest of the President or his party, even if it means at the detriment of
his opponents. Why would the President sack Mboob and blame him for
inefficiency, only to re-appoint him as Deputy Chairman in such an important
institution like IEC?

Exactly 17 days before the voters in the four constituencies go to the poll,
it seems the IEC officers have shown their true colour to Gambians.

Like the saying goes "people who cannot sustain the pressure in the kitchen
should quit." If the IEC executives think they cannot remain impartial
during elections, let them resign now before they become the cause of
endless brouhaha in our society.

If the startling revelations by NADD executive members are anything to go
by, then the electoral commission that is constitutionally mandated to
remain independent or neutral has gone off the track. It shows that we have
a bunch of people who are bent on conducting behind-the-scene-activities
just to allow the ruling party to sweep the polls in the by-elections. This
is not only an affront to our democracy and civilisation, but also a
betrayal of the highest order.

But with the frequent press conferences and communiqu廥 being issued shows
that the elections are crucial in every sense. The IEC seems to be
businesslike by quickly issuing the list of the countrywide total voter
transfer and replacements to the public. That is a good move. However, the
commissioners have failed to debunk the allegations of massive illegal voter
transfer, which might prompt some people to conclude that the story has
carried some element of truth.

Relevant Links

West Africa
Legal and Judicial Affairs
Human Rights
Gambia



What should be clear is that elections cannot be won on a polling day. It is
a process whose every step counts. In fact, without a level playing field,
elections don't worth taking place. What is the essence of organising an
election or race when cheating has begun before it kicks off?

The IEC officers need to inform Gambians about these allegations that
succeed in throwing mistrust and trauma in the opposition camp. Otherwise,
Gambian voters would come to a conclusion that they are serving the interest
of President Jammeh and his party, instead of public interest. No matter the
tightness of their hands, commissioners should delve into allegations of
pre-poll malpractices and condemn where necessary. Or they don't want to bit
the finger that feeds them.

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