This is a case that demonstrates how truly spineless and DEPENDENT the "IEC" is. From what I gathered, evidence of APRC vote-buying is so abundant and plain that no real investigation need take place. Yet, the "IEC" remains completely mute about what took place. This is not a suit that the UDP need champion. A real IEC would have established the fraud that occurred, take the case before the courts, -or use its powers to do whatever its required to do... ________________________________________________________________________ The organising secretary of the United Democratic Party (UDP) Lamin Waa Juwara has said that the UDP will mount a legal challenge against Mahawa Cham's election in Kiang East constituency as the APRC violated the election decree, which forbids politicians from bribing voters. "It will become clear to all Gambians that a free and fair election means election free from all corrupt practices as required by the law" Mr. Juwara contended. He claimed that in contravention of decree 78, the APRC was engaged in corrupt practices, which invalidated the result of the Kiang East bye-election. He said offering bicycles and soap to voters and inducing them to vote for the ruling party candidate are illegal and indefensible in the courts. According to section 116 of the 1996 election decree 78 the term "corrupt practice" means bribery, exerting undue influence "as provided in this part or aiding, abetting, counseling or procuring the commission of personation". "A corrupt practice shall be deemed to be committed by a candidate if it is committed with his knowledge or consent or by a person who is acting under the general or special authority of such candidate with reference to the election where a corrupt practice is committed by any candidate elected at an election held under the provision of this decree, the election of such candidate shall be invalid" the decree states. "The APRC money politics will not go unchallenged because bribing a voter is illegal and if they have nothing else to back them up but only to engage in corrupt practices as a political organisation, the bye-election are a clear manifestation that the Gambian people did not buy cheap propaganda. We have solid evidence of bribery during the bye-election which is contrary to the electoral laws of The Gambia" Mr. Juwara argued, reiterating his party's resolve to usher the matter to the courts for action. _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html You may also send subscription requests to [log in to unmask] if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write your full name and e-mail address. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------