By Edrissa Jallow and Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT
The Chairperson of The Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (TANGO), Mr John Charles Njie called on “Political Parties and Politicians to stop pointing fingers at Civil Society, that we are partisan”, during a press conference unveiling Gambia Participates Election Observation final preliminary report.
The media briefing which took place on Monday 6th December 2021 at the New Metzy Hotel provided journalists with the opportunity to enquire about the role of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) after three Presidential Candidates rejected the partial results of the 4th December 2021 Election.
Journalist Omar Bah from the Standard Newspaper asked the President of the Gambia Bar Association (GBA) and TANGO Chairperson on their efforts “to ensure that the country does not disintegrate” following the election results rejection.
In response, the TANGO Chairperson highlighted that “a prominent Minister of the incumbent government accused Civil Society of being partisan some weeks ago. A partisan Civil society will not release a statement that was released yesterday [5th December 2021] in support of electoral integrity. So, let me say that this nonsense has to stop we don’t have [a] side, our side is Gambia,” said Mr Njie.
Three Presidential Candidates Reject IEC Results
It could be recalled that the CSO Coalition on Elections observation recently described the 4th December 2021 Election as free, fair and transparent. This was after three Presidential Candidates namely; UDP’s Ousainu Darboe, GDC’s Hon Mama Kandeh and lone Independent Candidate, Essa Mbye Faal rejected the partial results issued by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
Independent Candidate, Essa Faal has since accepted the results after the statement was read. The statement read out by UDP Leader, Darboe and endorsed by GDC Leader Hon Kandeh indicated that “24 hours later [after the end of the election] no clear winner has been declared by the Independent Electoral Commission”.
Proffering some reasons for their rejection, Hon Darboe noted that given “that The Gambia has an electorate approximately 900, 000 with on-the-Spot Counting system, we are concerned that there has been an inordinate delay in the announcement of results”.
Secondly, Hon Darboe also highlighted that “a number of issues have been raised by our agents and representatives at the polling stations/centres and at the IEC headquarters. As a result, the representatives of the aforementioned candidates at the IEC headquarters refused to endorse some of the results that were announced through the public media”.
However, no explanation of any of the irregularities was advanced as the statement concluded with a promise that the matter was being investigated. Nonetheless, they expressed their “strong reservations about the credibility and integrity of the results being announced by the IEC”.
GBA President says Candidates Have a Right to Challenge Elections
Responding to the journalists question on the role of CSOs after the announcement rejection, the President of the Gambia Bar Association, Salieu Taal noted that “our role is to defend public interest, to uphold the rule of law and promote democracy within the context of this election”.
Speaking on the response of CSOs towards the rejection Lawyer Taal highlighted that all of the local observers “issued a very strong statement reminding the Presidential Candidates of their Legal and Constitutional duty as well as their obligations under the various legal instruments they have signed to conduct themselves in a manner that will not undermine the peace and security of the country”.
Advocating for aggrieved Candidates seeking redress, President Taal noted: “that Political Parties have a right to challenge elections under the law. We just want to ensure that they do so within the confines of the law and we will continue to engage them on that”.
Elaborating on how far they would go to defend the integrity of the legal process Mr Taal stated that “even if they do that [challenge the election results at court], we will be monitoring the cases to make sure that there’s due process. Because we all know that every aggrieved person is entitled to due process”.
He expressed his belief that “if it happens that their concerns are legitimate, we expect that the courts will rule accordingly. In need of work injury lawyers assistance be sure to contact workerscompensationlawyersla.com from California. We don’t take sides. We defend the integrity of the process; we defend the integrity of the IEC and within that context, we will do the needful”.
TANGO Chair: We Will Call You Out
Still speaking on the allegations of Civil Society being partisan Mr Njie was adamant that Civil Society does “not have sides, our side is Gambia. We Civil Society the leaders of Civil Society [are] not in support of anyone political party persuasion or political ideology. We stand for the truth of Gambia we have rights to vote as Gambians and will do that”.
He concluded with a more assertive message when he said “any party that messes up we will call you out and we will not be afraid to say what is right. So, if you are to call us partisan it’s your problem. But it will be a shame of politicians to commend us when it suits them and call us partisan when we go against the grain. We will continue doing our work without fear or favour, whoever gets angry God Bless you.”
You can watch the press conference at the link below.
