By Patience Loum
The Independent Electoral Commission of the Gambia (IEC) has released its scheduled activities for the upcoming local government elections (Councillorship, Mayoral and Chairpersons’ Elections).
In a meeting addressing stakeholders, party members, and civil society organizations at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara Conference Center on 9th November 2022, the IEC announced a new registered political party called People’s Alliance Party (PAP) after meeting all the said requirements for registration as a political party under section 105 of the Elections Act 2009 with Tabora Manneh as party leader. Altogether, the IEC has registered so far a total of 19 political parties
The IEC, under section 43 of the Constitution of the Gambia has the mandate to conduct all public elections which include the Local government elections and is expected to be held 12 months after the National Assembly Elections
The IEC has announced that the issuance of nomination forms will be done at the IEC’s regional offices and not at the IEC house. The issuing of nomination forms will is scheduled to take place on 15th November 2023 and nomination of candidates will be from 14th to 27th March 2023 which will last for two weeks.
The IEC also announced that the issuance of the nomination forms for the mayoral and chairpersons’ elections will take place on the 17th of April 2023.
Following the issuance of nominations forms at the IEC’s regional offices is the nomination of candidates which will be from the 27th of April to the 3rd of May 2023, however, this will only last for one week.
The scheduled date for the Councillorship elections is on the 15th of April whilst the scheduled date for the Mayoral and Chairpersons’ elections is on the 20th of May 2023.
The Complete List of the Scheduled Dates for the Local Government Elections Can be found on the IEC Website.
