Gambia: What’s the Sense in Registering a New Political Party Barely Six Months Before Elections?

Back in April, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) announced the de-registration of two political parties and the dissolution of one. The National Democratic Action Movement (NDAM) and the Gambia Democratic Party (GDP) were deemed dormant as they did not meet all the commission’s requirements, whereas the National Alliance for Democracy and Development was confirmed as dissolved, thus not in existence anymore. 

Election Ballot Boxes. Sources: kibaaro

This followed the March 31st deadline set by the so-called independent body for all political parties to regularise their status in line with the 2015 Election Amendment Act. Among the requirements of the Elections Amendment Act is for all political parties in the country to get offices in all the seven administrative regions of the country and to furnish the IEC with the addresses of the regional offices. They were also mandated to submit their audited accounts to the commission and for all executive members of political parties to be resident in The Gambia.

Meanwhile eight parties were declared to have met all the requirements and are therefore approved as “bona fide political parties” in the Gambia. Am not so sure about that because as far as I understand, two individual party leaders are not currently residing in the Gambia. The GPDP leader is a resident of Germany and the GMC leader currently resides in Senegal. So how they meet all the requirements of the commission is beyond me. Notwithstanding, the following political parties were approved and therefore deemed fit to run for the December 2016 polls:

Gambian Opposition Party Leaders. Source: jollofnews

• People’s Progressive Party (PPP)
• National Convention Party (NCP)
• People’s Democratic Party for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS)
• Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC)
• United Democratic Party (UDP)
• National Reconciliation Party (NRP)
• Gambia Party for Democracy and Progress (GPDP)
• Gambia Moral Congress (GMC)

To compound my bemusement however, the IEC some two weeks ago announced the registration of a new political party. A  statement issued by the commission read: “In accordance with Section 105 of the Elections Act and the Elections Amendment Act 2015, Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC) has been registered as a bona fide Political Party in The Gambia.The colour of the party is PURPLE and the symbol is an Open Calabash in Two Palms. The motto of the party is: One Gambia One People. The Party Leader is Mr Mamma Kandeh.”

That then brings the total number of political parties registered for the forthcoming presidential elections to nine. So what has the new party got to offer to Gambian voters and how will it differ from other parties. This is the question in every Gambians mind. However, most people, myself included have serious doubts over whether the new party will be able to meet all the IEC requirements prior to the elections. There is also what some might call - a certain degree of conspiracy theory coming from some corners surrounding the formation of the GMC party. Some people even argue that they are just set up to destabilised the opposition and to strengthen the incumbent’s grip on power.

Whatever the motives behind the registration of a new political and whatever people’s opinions are, the bitter truth is; no one opposition party in The Gambia is able to take on the ruling party on its own. So the only slim chance that the opposition might have come December is to form a coalition of parties and choose one flag bearer to challenge the APRC candidate. This have been advocated for by so many people in so many forums. Unfortunately, barely six months to the elections, there is still no sign of progress on that front.

So to all opposition party leaders aspiring to contest the coming elections, we appeal to you to put your acts together. Please listen to the people and try to form a coalition! But first, you should all come together ASAP and work tirelessly towards the unconditional release of the incarcerated UDP leader and all his party militants. From there, you embark on a strategic and progressive campaign to win the hearts and minds of electorates across the nation. Failure to do so will automatically categorise all of you as non-serious-politician in my book! You all know as I do, that the country is at a tipping point at the minute. And judging by recent events, you should all realise by now that, majority of Gambians would like to see the status quo change through the ballot box rather than through violence means. May peace continue to prevail in The Gambia.