Gambia party appeals for level political field

Gambia's opposition People’s Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS) has called for reforms to ensure a level playing field ahead of the March 29 National Assembly elections.

A statement issued by the party central committee and signed by the secretary general, Mr Halifa Sallah, said the elections were the only opportunity to prevent a de facto monarchy.

“What became clear to even foreign observers is that the opposition is deprived of resources to conduct an effective campaign and monitor the voting process,” said PDOIS statement in part.

PDOIS, which has vowed to initiate a programme of consultation to promote electoral reform, said if it failed to get the cooperation of the Independent Electoral Commission and the ruling APRC party, it would rely on the decision taken at the 20th Ordinary Session of the ACHPR Grand Bay, Mauritius, October 1996 to take the government to the Ecowas Community Court.

The socialist opposition party went further to state that the APRC leadership openly received donations on national TV from foreign and local businesspeople, events that were covered as news items.

“The state corporation and private companies provide campaign materials in the form of T shirts and posters. The Director General of GRTS operates almost like a public relations officer of the president and the party. Money and media, the most powerful forces in elections, are under the complete monopoly of the ruling party,” it pointed out.

The socialists said the army, the police and the security forces in general were mobilised to join the entourage of governors and chiefs, who were also presidents of district tribunals, council of elders, traditional and cultural opinion leaders, to campaign for the APRC.

The party observed that school children were not spared the APRC politics, as they were given donations to organise parties after waiting under the hot sun to welcome convoys of green boys, green girls and other party enthusiasts.

PDOIS observed that no opposition alliance stood the chance of winning 27 seats under such an electoral atmosphere.

IEC has announced that nomination of candidates for the elections will take place on March 8, 9 and 10.

Campaigns will last 14 days and prospective candidates have been asked to pick up nomination forms.

PDOIS has been in existence for 26 years.