IEC registers President Barrow’s new party amidst 3-Year Junta protests

By Akeem Alao

The Independent Electoral Commission of The Gambia (IEC) has announced on the eve of the New Year the registration of President Barrow’s new political party called National Peoples Party (NPP). This is the same month Gambians protested against his decision to extend his stay, contrary to the 3-year tenure contract he signed with the Coalition.

According to the press release by the electoral body yesterday, the new party had met all the requirements for the registration, and thereby officially registered as a political.

“The Independent Electoral Commission hereby wishes to notify the general public that having met the requirements under section 105 of the Election Act 2009 (as amended), a new party: National Peoples Party has this 31st day of December 2019 been duly registered as a bona fide political party,” the document reads.

While responding to an interviewer on a local TV station, the leader of the main opposition party and former Vice President, Ousainou Darboe,  claimed that the President actually registered two political parties, with the same manifestos.

“I have clear proof about what I am telling you. I will not tell you something that I am not sure of. I have the manifesto of their new party. The party’s name is NDP. They haven’t said anything that the other existing political parties haven’t said in their manifestos,” said Darboe.

Reacting to the new development, Kemo Bojang, a young Gambian politician said President Barrow’s decision to register a new party is another evidence that he is a betrayer because he had promised the coalition that he would not belong to any party throughout his three-agreed year tenure as the country’s president.

“He (President Barrow) is now going against the first point of the Coalition agreement not to belong to any party so as to be president,” said Bojang.

“I foresee the man being dragged to court,” noted Fodeh Baldeh, a renowned Gambian scholar. “He’s an independent coalition president. I don’t think during his tenure he can belong to or establish a party.”

“This is what we call betrayal of trust. You promised the entire nation that you were going to rule for a transitional period of 3 years, that you would resign and never contest for any future election. But you are here forming your own political party aiming to become another dictator,” said Omar Senghore.

However, Demba Kanu, an advocate of democracy in Gambia, said that democracy has defined its existence in Gambia with the registration of the new party.

“This is what democracy is all about and I hope IEC now organized national televised debates among all party leaders about their respective agendas,” he noted.

President Barrow has been accused of breaking the promise he made with the Gambians, especially the Coalition, who brought him in as an independent candidate. The 3-year term agreement he signed with the Coalition has been quashed to satisfy his own interest, by extending his stay for another two year, which is constitutional. However, according to public opinion, Mr. Barrow might be charged to court for breach of contract after his tenure as the President.