By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT
The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) and the Committee of Eminent Persons announced that over 80% of Parliamentary Candidates have signed the Peace Pledge for the upcoming 9th April 2022 Parliamentary Elections. Speaking on behalf of the delegation H.E. Muhammed Ibn Chambas told members of the press that they “liaised very closely with the IEC” from the collection of nomination papers to the submission candidates “who agreed willingly sign it”.
The Peace Pledge for Parliamentary Elections is a continuation of a similar Peace Pledge signed in the run-up to the 4th December 2022 Presidential Elections. The symbolic signing ceremony was held at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara Conference Center where Lead Facilitator Dr Chambas explained that the singing ceremonies featuring candidates from the West Coast region on Tuesday and both Banjul and Kanifing on Wednesday were only symbolic as the candidates had already signed the Code of Conduct with the IEC.
On the importance of the symbolic signing, Dr Chambas highlighted that it was necessary for “this to be captured so that it can be broadcast and the general population will know that there’s a code of conduct for the candidates to the national assembly elections. And actually, to see some of them signing”. Updating the press on the number of candidates who signed on Tuesday and Wednesday Dr Chambas noted that 22 Candidates from the West Coast Region and 15 from Banjul and Kanifing Administrative Areas have signed the Peace Pledge.
During the press briefing held on 30th March 2022, Dr Chambas noted that “most of the approved candidates were — encouraged through civil society, especially WANEP leading the process and the local observers in the different constituencies. As of yesterday, more than 80 percent of candidates have signed the code of conduct. But as you know, there is still time so we expect that more candidates can still sign it”.
On the monitoring of Parliamentary candidates on compliance with the Code of Conduct, Dr Chambas revealed that during the engagements with candidates they “entreated them to — respect what they have signed. And this is where you come in as civil society and as media, you should also do the informal monitoring”.
Dr Chambas urged the media and civil society actors to “please hold their feet to the fire. If you see any candidate, you hear any candidate, you witness any candidate not respecting any of the tenants, please take it up for yourself to draw attention to it”. In his view this is what is needed for civil society to continue to play its role “in contributing towards peaceful elections. Before during and after national assembly elections”.
Some of the provisions in the Peace Pledge Towards Peaceful Elections in the 9th April 2022 Parliamentary Elections are for Candidates and their followers to;
- Run issues-based political campaigns wherever they go both in the Gambia and online,
- Ensure uninterrupted and uncompromised freedom of expression and sharing of accurate information to all media and public platforms throughout the process,
- Refrain from the use of social media to misinform people,
- Publicly condemn all acts of violence and intimidation and their instigators and perpetrators at any time during the electoral process,
- Refrain from making or coercing others to issue political pronouncements that can incite hatred, tribal, gender or religious sentiments during the electoral process,
- Cooperate with the IEC and all Candidates to avoid clashes during campaign periods,
- Refrain from any form of vote buy and financial inducement and false promises of infrastructural development,
- Accept the results as announced by IEC at all polling stations and constituency level,
- Admonish party members and followers to refrain from insults, intimidations, incitement, violence and to conduct themselves in a law-abiding manner,
- Resort to judicial processes to address disputes which may arise from the elections,
- Corporate with IEC and Law Enforcement Institution to investigate electoral disputes,
- Commit parties and followers to the monitoring of adherence to the code of conduct by a Committee of Eminent Persons,
- Take up the responsibility of distributing the provisions of the code of conduct with all followers and supporters.