Gambia: Eight political parties approved to participate in elections

Gambian Independent Electoral Commission has legalised eight political parties and deregistered one After a March 3 ultimatum for all political parties to meet the requirements of the Elections Amendment Act.

The statement went further to indicate that eight of the parties, which include the ruling APRC and the main opposition, United Democratic Party, have all met the requirements and are bona fide political parties registered with the Commission to contest in the December presidential polls and all subsequent elections.

President Yaya Jammeh has confirmed that he would be running for a fifth term in the upcoming polls which he is widely expected to win by a landslide.

Gambia’s Jammeh to run for fifth term in office https://t.co/Q8LvmqVl3w

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The Elections Amendment Act, 2015 has mandated the political parties in the country to get offices in all the seven administrative regions of the country.

This also includes giving addresses of their regional offices to the electoral body, as well as submit their audited accounts to the commission.

Two other parties, the Democratic National Alliance Movement (NDAM) and the Democratic Party of Gambia (GDP), did not meet the set regulations forcing the electoral body to revoke their registration.

AFP