By Muhammed S. Bah
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) Chairman Alieu Mamor Njai has urged Journalists reporting on National Assembly elections to be professional and responsible. He made these remarks on Saturday during the Training of Trainers for National Assembly Elections slated for 6th April, 2017. The training is under-way at the Paradise Suite Hotel, Kololi.
Chairman Njai added that media reports on the elections should be conducted both in a professional and responsible manner; by giving factual; accurate, truthful, thorough, and balanced accounts. Such election reports by the media should be done with absolute honesty. “Let me take this opportunity to inform this August gathering that the International Observation Groups notably among them, the European Union have started arriving in the country, some on long term observation and others on short.”
He said that the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations on elections has also been accredited with a number of other civil society organizations and youth groups. As beneficiaries of the Election Project being managed by the UNDP, the CSO Coalition is also monitoring the campaigns across the length and breadth of the country to enable them to write a comprehensive report on the National Assembly Elections.
He further thanked the Assistant Returning Officers for accepting the challenge once again. “You have always been performing exceptionally well during electoral activities and I enjoin you to once again take this training workshop very seriously for the success of the forthcoming elections hinges gently on your dedication and performance.”
Chairman Njai also appealed to Gambians and all friends of the Gambia resident here to keep the peace and desist from actions that may be a contravention of the laws of The Gambia. He advised strongly that they should let the process of law take its due course.
He therefore urged all stakeholders, including political parties to leave no stone unturned in sensitizing the voting public, on all aspects of the electoral process that should lead to an orderly and peaceful election day. He said voters should be encouraged to turn out in great numbers early on polling day so that the poll could start promptly at 8 O’clock in the morning and end at 5’ clock in the afternoon as planned. Chairman Njai sounded optimistic that the peace and smooth elections in the past Presidential elections will be emulated here. He wished the attendees well and pledged his office to be supportive throughout the process.