By Kumba Leigh
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has intensified preparations for The Gambia’s 2026 Presidential Election, engaging political parties, the media, civil society, security institutions and other stakeholders on the nomination process and related legal requirements.
The stakeholder engagement, held at Conference Centre, provided participants with an opportunity to seek clarification on nomination procedures, correction of nomination documents, accreditation of international observers and foreign media, security arrangements, court matters and other aspects of the electoral process.
IEC Chairman Joseph Colley assured stakeholders that the Commission remains open to dialogue and clarification as preparations for the election continue.
According to Chairman Colley, the electoral process has already commenced, with relevant legal instruments published and nomination forms scheduled to be available from 21 September.
He urged prospective candidates and political parties to seek clarification directly from the Commission rather than relying on speculation or misinformation.
“If you have any clarification, any doubt, our offices are always open,” Chairman Colley said.
The issue of rejected nominations in previous elections also featured prominently during the engagement. Chairman Colley said the Commission had reviewed its procedures and would allow corrections where permitted by law.
He explained that the nomination period would run for 10 days, followed by two additional days for corrections. He added that candidates whose nominations are rejected would be formally notified of the reasons for the decision.
Stakeholders also raised questions concerning the eligibility requirements for presidential candidates, including the constitutional distinction between citizenship by birth and citizenship by descent.
The role of security institutions in the electoral process was another key issue. A participant sought clarification on mechanisms for verifying international observers and foreign media personnel arriving in the country.
Chairman Colley said security institutions are an integral part of the electoral process and stressed the need for effective coordination among the relevant institutions on matters including accreditation, visas and entry procedures.
Participants further discussed presidential manifestos, with Chairman Colley explaining that a presidential candidate is expected to present a programme or vision to the electorate, distinct from the organisational documents of a political party.
Concerns were also raised about court proceedings and the service and accessibility of documents in electoral disputes. Chairman Colley said the IEC has procedures for serving relevant documents and would continue to operate within the legal framework while respecting the independence of the courts.
The meeting also addressed the possibility of duplicate nominations, particularly where the same individual may appear on nomination lists submitted by different political parties.
Chairman Colley said the Commission’s electoral system is designed to detect duplicate entries and urged political parties and candidates to carefully verify their nomination documents before submission.
He also encouraged political actors not to wait until the last minute to complete their preparations, noting that the IEC is required to operate within strict statutory timelines.
Chairman Colley reiterated that the credibility of the 2026 election will depend on cooperation among the IEC, political parties, candidates, security institutions, the media, civil society and the electorates.
He assured stakeholders that the Commission would remain accessible throughout the electoral period and encouraged them to seek clarification directly from the IEC on any matter relating to the election.
As preparations continue, stakeholders are expected to familiarise themselves with the relevant laws, nomination requirements and electoral timetable ahead of the commencement of the formal nomination process.
