We can learn two important lessons from the testimonies of witnesses during proceedings of the revising courts, which clearly indicate the need for electoral reform. They expose a broken system of registration of voters which can be abused by politicians, especially those in the ruling party, to manipulate the process in their favour.
In short, an Alkalo can be dismissed by the Minister of Regional Government and Lands, and therefore he/she owes allegiance and loyalty to the Minister, the Government and the ruling party. They can easily facilitate the issuance of attestation to supporters of the ruling party, whether they are citizens or not. Attestation by an Alkalo cannot be relied on to affirm the citizenship of a claimant either by the IEC or any other public institution.
When Foroyaa interviewed the Alkalo of Tallindingkunjang he acknowledged that he does not know all those living in Tallinding and cannot ascertain their citizenship. In fact, the Alkalo of Brufut in his testimony to a revising court said plainly that he signed the attestation of a claimant he had never heard of or seen before.
When a claimant who appears before an IEC official to be registered as a voter, the IEC cannot refuse to register him or her. The law requires them to register the claimant whether he is a citizen or not. The document he/she possesses is sufficient evidence that he is a citizen.
This is what section 13 of the Elections Act states:
“(2) The Commission shall register a person’s name on the register of voters in a Constituency, if he or she produces any one of the following documents –
(a) a birth certificate;
(b) a Gambian passport;
(c) a National Identity Card, or
(d) an attestation from an Alkalo or Seyfo certifying that he or she is a Gambian.
(3) The Commission shall not reject a valid document produced under sub-section (2).”
It is now clear that the IEC cannot continue to rely on attestation to register voters.
The second lesson, which deals with citizenship, will be dealt with in a subsequent edition.
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