The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has on Tuesday, March 14th, 2023, commenced the nomination process for the April 15th councilors’ elections throughout the country.

As part of the procedures to contest the councilors and Mayoral elections, candidates of various political parties as well as Independent Candidates have to file their nominations at the various Independent Electoral Commission (I EC) offices across the country.

The IEC has dedicated each day of the nominating process to two political parties and independent candidates within a region, starting from 9 am to 4 pm every day. 

The candidates for the Alliance for National Re-orientation and development (ANRD) and All People’s Party (APP) were expected to submit their credentials to the Independence Electoral Commission today in the Kanifing Municipality (KM) as scheduled by the IEC, but the candidates for both parties failed to show up for their nominations. 

Speaking to the press, Joseph Colley, the vice chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) said in the Kanifing Administrative area, the parties that are scheduled for their nominations did not show up. 

“Nominations is a period where people can still collect nomination forms and make it. That is why we schedule everybody, and we give everybody a chance. The said parties who were supposed to come did not come to this administrative area, but we don’t know whether they have collected and submitted in other administrative areas. Because the nominations are taking place across the country. So, in this administrative area, we have not seen them,” he said. 

Mr. Colley said they had to sit and wait until 4:00 pm before closing because that is the time Gazetted. 

“Some people may come and collect forms, maybe as independent candidates. They can change their minds and come for any political party you wouldn’t know. So, it is only fitting and fair until 4:00 pm before we leave. So, every day we will definitely do that, we have scheduled the parties on certain days. So, notwithstanding, even if they don’t come or show up, we will still sit until 4 pm before we leave. Because nomination is from 8:00 am to 4:00mp, and it is a period from the 14th of March to the 27th of March 2023, so anything can happen,” Mr. Colley said. 

When asked if this situation will obstruct the elections? Mr. Colley said the number of candidates does not matter because it only takes two people to contest in an election. 

“This one is not a constituency, it is Wards. We are dealing with wards. So, we have 19 wards in the Kanifing Municipality (KM). So, the least for the contest to take place you need only two candidates. If we have only one candidate in a ward, then that person will be declared the winner, but it is too early for that if these parties do not show up, it does not mean that will have any bearing in the election, so we just wait because it is 14 days. So, we just hope and pray that other candidates will come,” he said. 

According to the IEC schedule for Wednesday, March 15th, 2023, candidates for the Citizen’s Alliance (CA) and Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC) are expected to file their nomination papers across IEC Offices in the country.

By Ramatoulie Jawo