IEC Declares Its Desire to Have Free and Fair Registration Exercise

FOROYAA Newspaper (Serrekunda)

Publisher

18 May 2011

The IEC held its first Press Conference after the beginning of Registration to give assurance that it intends to hold free and fair registration exercise. The Chairman of the IEC conveyed three fundamental principles to the invitees. First and foremost he asserted the principle of “one citizen one vote.” He warned that anybody who tries to get more than one card would be discovered and would be severely punished. They advised all those who had registered twice to go and surrender the second card before the end of the registration exercise when the computer experts are likely to discover all double registration.

Foroyaa would like to add its voice to the call for each Gambian to recognise the principle of sovereign equality of all citizens which is manifested in the principle of one person, one vote. Any body who tries to get two cards is actually introducing corrupt practice in the whole registration exercise.

The second principle advocated for by the chairman of the IEC is the principle of registering where one is to vote and voting where one is registered. The person could register where one is born or is resident. One should not register in any other place that does not march the two criteria.

The Chairman also emphasised the principle of adding value to one´s citizenship by having a voter´s card.

It is therefore necessary for all Gambians who attained the age of 18 years and above to get a voter´s card. Those who complain that Non Gambians are getting voter´s cards and become apathetic and not get one is actually surrounding ones sovereignty to them. They will decide how Gambia is to be governed through the apathy of those whose birth right it is to decide. Gambians who refuse to get voter´s card for any reason should not claim to a Gambian citizens. A citizen without citizenship power is politically impotent. Power belongs to those who seek the vote and actually exercise one’s right to vote by taking part in all elections.

The party representatives who were present have made abundantly clear that they should report all anomalies to the IEC for action. They should all go back and tell their party supporters not to go to registration centres if they are not a party agent or a claimant. There is no mandate for council of elders at registration centres and they should all leave the centres before the IEC takes action. All parties should follow the rules then they would have equal impact in creating a free and fair registration exercise. However if some comply while others violate the rules the IEC would appear to be siding with those who abide by the rules.

The way forward is for those who are using invalid card numbers on attestation forms to desist from the practice. Those who use fake identities on Attestation forms are making those forms invalid. Those who are attesting forms for children in school who do not have the age are wasting their time since investigators will go to schools and get the correct dates. Those who attest to lies are bound to face prosecution at one time or the other and no political figure will come to their defense. The law disqualifies a political figure from seeking political office at the level of the National Assembly” if he has been found guilty of any abuse of office , corruption or any offence connected with public elections by a court” as stipulated in section 90 of the constitution. Party supporters should not do any dirty work for party leaders and suffer the consequences at the end.

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