DOES THE GAMBIAN OPPOSITION BENEFIT FINANCIALLY FROM PARTICIPATING IN
ELECTIONS?

Dear Editor,

Elections are fast approaching in The Gambia. Opposition parties, UDP, PDOIS and NRP seem set to participate in the
elections come what may. What is clear to every sensible person is that Yahya Jammeh will win the elections under the
present conditions. The playing field is far from leveled. Every Minister, Permanent Secretary, Security Chief, Managing
Director, Governor, Chief, Village head and Youth leader must support and seen to be supporting the re-election
campaign of Yahya Jammeh through verifiable efforts. The atmosphere is not conducive to hold free and fair elections.
These are some of the problems;

1. Opposition parties struggle to hold rallies because the office of Inspector General of Police will deny them permits
2. There is no access to pubic and private media
3. Only 11 days of campaigning is allowed
4. No outside independent election observers are allowed
5. IEC commissioners including Chairman Carayol who are appointed by Yahya Jammeh openly sided with him when he
Jammeh was registered at State House against election rules
6. Yahya Jammeh is the only party leader who openly and regularly talks about tribalism without being censored by the
IEC.

So why are the opposition parties interested to participate in the coming elections? Of course, both Lawyer Darboe and
Hamat Bah are 'confident of winning'. But, if previous elections are anything to go by and the present hostile conditions,
they are going to be soundly defeated. Our opposition parties should be realistic about their chances. Even if they form
a coalition, they will still be defeated under the present conditions. Again, what is their motivation for participating when it
is very clear that they are going to lose? Are some of them seeing the election cycle as a season to make money from
local and overseas donors?

M. Jagne