Mustapha L. Carayol is Gambia's Independent Electoral Commission, IEC, Chairperson. (Photo Credit: SEYLLOU/AFP/Getty Images) |
During the
election period we must be aware that our activities are guided by the law, and
we must to pay attention to the rules governing our roles, Mustapha L. Carayol
tells election officials on Saturday.
The various
actors in the electoral process need to know and relate to the kind of behavior
required of them, the Chairperson of Gambia’s Independent Electoral Commission
(IEC) said while addressing election officials at a training of trainers held on
March 23, 2013 in Kololi, a small town in the Kanifing Municipality.
The Gambia
is gearing up for this year’s Local Government Elections scheduled for April 4.
These elections are critical for giving local citizens a chance for a more
direct avenue to get their concern taken care of.
Credible
elections
The training
aims to carve new ways of improving service delivery in the dispensation of
roles as election officials. It is also meant to bring together various
stakeholders to discuss the various roles in the conduct of free, fair and
transparent election.
The
participants include various players including representatives of political
parties, security agents, and polling staff. These are major stakeholders in
our electoral process, Carayol said.
“Elections
in the Gambia should be the business of all, this approach will surely yield
credible elections that would be accepted by all the players in the political
and electoral process, nationally and internationally,” he said.
The election
body, IEC, says it is appealing to political parties to recruit suitable
polling agents who are able to read, complete forms and follow simple
instruction. Agents, who are interested in the electoral process, uphold team
work and knowledgeable about community in which they will be working on polling
day.
Law and
order
It urges the
security services to maintain law and order throughout the campaign period.
They must also secure polling staff and materials throughout the election
period.
The ruling
Alliance for Patriotic Re-orientation and Construction (APRC) has put up
candidates in all the 114 Wards, while opposition National Reconciliation Party
(NRP) nominated 10 candidates in the provinces. There are 40 independent
candidates contesting councillorship seats across the country.
At the
Banjul City Council, incumbent Mayor Samba Faal is competing against three
independent candidates: Basirou Ndow, Abdoulie Bah and Alhagi Jah. While
Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) incumbent Mayor Yankuba Colley is vying
against Sheikh Omar Saho, an independent candidate.
Written by Modou S. Joof
Follow on Facebook: The-North-Bank-Evening-Standard
No comments:
Post a Comment
The views expressed in this section are the authors' own. It does not represent The North Bank Evening Standard (TNBES)'s editorial policy. Also, TNBES is not responsible for content on external links.