Two Gambian political pressure groups have asked the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to suspend President Adama Barrow’s National People’s Party for six months for “gross violation” of the elections act.

The groups, Right 2 Know Coalition-Gambia and The Democratic Union of Gambian Activists, made a list of NPP “violations” in a letter sent to the IEC. 

In the letter, shared with Gambiana, the groups said: “President Adama Barrow’s party, NPP, has never held a congress.  We raised this in our letter of 29 October and were told that the regulations stipulate that it must be within two years, (other unsavoury things were said about us in your half-hearted rebuttal, and the same distasteful response also came from the Minister of Information, Ebrima Sillah, and another NPP lackey- both statements were insulting but not surprising) and that the NPP was less than two years old. 

“The NPP has now surpassed that 24-month mark, yet still has not held a congress.  This gross infraction of the Elections Act is a continuing violation, as the IEC has allowed the illegality to endure unabated.

“The IEC knew that the NPP never held a Congress yet went ahead and accepted the party’s nominations of candidates for the National Assembly elections.  

“The IEC was aware that President Adama Barrow’s party, the NPP, never held a congress, yet turned a blind eye on the nationwide presidential campaign   undertaken by the incumbent to boost his chances of electoral victory in the legislative polls, wantonly abusing state resources with impunity.

“The IEC was aware of these anomalies yet was complicit in assisting the NPP evade the regulations set in the Elections Amendment Act. 

“These are the same laws the IEC has used to penalise less powerful and much smaller parties in the past. However, when it comes to bigger parties, particularly those belonging to the incumbent, the application of the rules is very different.  

“Your motto of fair play, integrity and transparency, (which is oddly no longer prominently embossed on your webpage) seems to have faded away in presentation, practice and policy.”

The groups continued: “We endeavour to hold you accountable, to ensure that as the national elections regulator you deploy your mandate according to the laws of the land.  

“We hereby call on the IEC to: Immediately suspend the National Peoples’ Party (NPP) for at least six months (as was applied to other parties for the same infraction) for violating the Elections Amendment Act; Immediately declare all approved applications of NPP candidates for the 2022 National Assembly elections null and void; Immediately inform the NPP that it must cease all political activity until it holds a Congress according to the Elections Amendment Act, and the suspension is lifted.

“Failure to do so will grossly undermine the credibility of the institution of the Elections Regulator and will further instil the lingering doubts in the minds of the public, and the electorate on the credibility of the April National Assembly polls.  

“The 6th Assembly’s credibility, and legitimacy will be forever stained if the IEC refuses to abide by the laws of the land.”

Gambiana contacted IEC for comment. A spokesman said: ”We will respond to this press release after the National Assembly elections because we are currently busy.”

Reporting by Adama Makasuba