By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT
Today 6th November 2021 Gambian Journalists were denied from scrutinising the Nomination Documents of Presidential Aspirants.
At a training organised by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) Journalists were informed that they needed to bring their press pass to gain access to the Nomination Documents. However, upon arrival, we were informed that a voters card is needed to scrutinise the documents.
This meant that only a few Journalists were allowed to access the Nomination forms. Those who were allowed to access the Nomination Documents were only afforded 5 minutes to scrutinise more than 20 Aspirants.
Soon after the first set of Journalists were allowed to access the Nomination Documents and take notes IEC Officials decided that no other Journalist would be allowed to take notes.
Journalists had planned to use their voice recorders to assist with note-taking but this was denied.
Therefore, the Journalists who attended the public scrutiny process are of the view that the whole process was thwarted by the IEC Officials.
Democracy dies in the absence of Transparency
IEC restricted citizens to scrutinise their leaders today. Creating new rules from nowhere including a voters card and 5 mins viewing time. Both of which are not progressive rules and not in line with the law.
IEC refused to take any questions today after their press briefing. They invited journalists for a press conference and refused to take questions. So it turned into a press briefing.
IEC clearly has work to do to become a transparent Institution.
IEC is not above the law and cannot make regulations left right and center as they please. Their regulations need to be in line with democratic principles and good governance.
Waiting until the day and telling citizens they must have a voters card, 5 mins viewing time and banning note-taking is not in line with democratic principles and open governance.
If IEC had even advised people of their regulation then one could concede but to wait until citizens arrive and employ restrictive regulations to stop people from accessing the Nomination Documents is a farce.
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