The Independent Electoral Commission has cleared 6-candidates for Gambia’s December 4 presidential elections. Below are the key information you need to know.

Accepted nominations

A.N.M Ousainu Darboe – United Democratic Party; Mamma Kandeh – Gambia Democratic Congress; Halifa Baboucarr Sallah – Peoples’ Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism; Adama Barrow – National Peoples’ Party, Abdoulie Ebrima Jammeh – National Unity Party and an independent candidate Essa Mbye Faal.

Cancellations

Independent candidates Mathew Gomez, Tamsir M. Jassey and Mamadou Bah and political parties Gambia For All and All Peoples’ Party have cancelled their nominations.

Rejected candidates

The electoral authorities rejected nomination of 15 candidates due to non-compliance with relevant sections of the electoral act. The list includes 9 independent candidates. They are Joseph Henry Joof, Marie Sock, Alhaji Mamadi Kurang, Ebrima Tabora Manneh, Momodou Bah, Bankole Yao Jojo Ahadzie, Mamadi K.S. Camara, Sheikh Matarr Nyang and Papa Faal.

The six political party candidates are Lamin Satou Bojang – National Re orientation and Development (ANRD), Mai Ahmed Fatty – Gambia Moral Congress (GMC), Dr. Ismaila Ceesay – Citizens’ Alliance (CA), Sheikh Tijan Hydara – Gambia Alliance for National Unity (GANU), Alieu Sowe – Gambia Action Party and Yusupha A. Dumbuya – Democratic Party (DP).

Appeals

Only three candidates have shown interest in appealing their disqualification by the IEC. They are Citizens’ Alliance, Gambia Moral Congress and independent candidate Alhaji Mamadi Kurang.  The IEC told journalists on November 9 that all appeals are rejected. The IEC’s decision on rejection of the appeals are final. The election act states “… the decision of the Commission on the appeal shall be final and shall not be called into questions in any court of law”.

Election campaign

The electoral campaign is scheduled to start on November 9 and will end on December 2. There will be a one-day break before the December 4 presidential elections.

Campaign timetable

The political party representatives have gathered at the IEC on November 7 and 8 to work out the campaign itineraries. This process works out places each team should be and at what time so that they can avoid a clash of schedules.

A peace pledge

The 18 registered political parties have signed a peace accord committing themselves Inter-party Committee Code of Conduct and the IEC Code of Ethics. They agreed to renounce inflammatory language and hate speech throughout the electoral period. This document was signed by all party heads including Ousainou Darboe, President Adama Barrow and Mama Kandeh.

Declaration of results

When polls closed on December 4, results will be counted on the spot. It will be pasted at various polling booths, as the population wait on the confirmation of the IEC. Only the IEC can declare the winner.

Election petition

Soon after the IEC declared the results, there is a president-elect. Whoever is aggrieved, according to Section 49 of the 1997 Constitution, can submit a petition within 10 days at the Supreme Court. Only parties or independent candidates who contested in the elections can bring the petition before the Supreme Court.

Transition

Gambia has no act that deals with a transition as to how a president elect should take over from a former president. This affected President Barrow when ex-president Yahya Jammeh’s team refused to meet his team for a proper handing over after the former president refused to accept defeat. However, Section 62 (2) of the 1997 Constitution states:

The person declared elected as President shall take the prescribed oaths and assume office on the day the term of the incumbent President expires.

This would fall on January 19 which is when President Adama Barrow took oath at the Gambian embassy in Senegal as President of the Gambia.