Being from Sami, I find the conduct of the IEC in the forthcoming Chieftaincy
election in that district to be despicable and offensive. It seems like
Bishop Johnson and his commission have taken their constitutionally defined
role and transformed it and themselves into an intractable morass. They
constantly vacillate between upholding the law as it pertains to their job
and issuing statements essentially negating and undermining the very essence
of their commission. First they announce upon requesting and getting a legal
opinion from their attorney that scheduled local gov't elections could
proceed even as the gov't and it's cronies in parliament deliberately refused
to pass the enabling legislation. Shortly thereafter they announced they were
going to the supreme court to issue a ruling on a matter they and everyone
else except for Yahya Jammeh and his lackeys have rightfully concluded that
they have the authority to proceed on. You would think they would spend their
time and effort into  framing the modalities of elections that are two years
overdue. Why should they need further validation when it is the gov't that is
intentionally breaking the law? But no! They are quick to put on their
"DALAS' to participate in this dancing charade of litigating what is already
clearly stipulated in the books . Why can't decent people sitting on an
independent commission not do what is right and proper by their people?
Clearly they can't cuddle Yahya Jammeh with his penchant for tyranny and
dictatorship on the one hand and pretend to uphold their oath of office on
the other.
        Returning to the case of the Sami district chief who I'd like to
remind list members was removed by the courts for the simple reason that he
was illegally occupying an elected position far beyond the 120 days allowed.
There are 21 other chiefs including the Chairman of KMC and the Mayor of
Banjul illegally occupying their positions. Yahya, fully cognisant of voter
antagonism towards him and his sycophants simply puts them in place
ostensibly in acting capacities and just ignores the law limiting their terms
to 120 days. As a result the Gambian people are saddled with people they did
not and will not choose. These rogue officials in turn use their ill deserved
positions to do the gov't's bidding by being the conduit for terrorism in a
wicked and cynical ploy to whip the people into submission. The courts ruling
on the Sami case ordered the IEC to organise a ballot . That is when all hell
has broken loose. The IEC has all but transformed a simple election to
district chief into a cruel circus characterized by the imposition of silly
and draconian restrictions that forbade literally all campaigning. They want
the people of Sami to behave like automatons and the contestants  especially
Mr Mbakeh who in the interest of full disclosure I must say is a family
member of mine from doing anything to solicit votes. Infact Mr Mbakeh and his
supporters were abducted by APRC thugs , a development the commission pled
ignorance about even as it occurred just when they were setting up shop in
the district. They want to so effectively hamstring the contestants that the
whole undertaking would become a sedate affair potentially suppressing
turnout, a development that would favor the gov't. The people of Sami are
used to vigorous campaigns and they deserve lo less this time. The wrong and
condescending attitude the IEC has brought to Sami would only bring disrepute
to the political process and it bodes ill for the far greater role they are
expected to play. Their job is to establish fair  and effective modalities
for the people to choose their representatives. They are not running a
plantation.
Karamba

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