Courtesy: Maafanta.com. Don't worry about the picture Ky.



The opposition boycott: a right decision?

By D. A. Jawo



There has been so much debate going on the pros and cons of the decision by the 
opposition to boycott the forthcoming National Assembly elections. Whilst some people 
have condemned it as a bad decision because it not only seems to contradict the 
opposition stance in the presidential elections, but it is also likely to give all the seats of 
the National Assembly to the APRC on a silver platter, others see it as a sensible move 
because the ground is not level for free and fair elections to take place. “What is the 
point in legitimizing an illegitimate situation?” asked an opposition sympathizer.

It is quite obvious that the opposition did not take this decision quite lightly because they 
all have been saying all along that they had no intentions of boycotting elections. 


Therefore, the very fact that, with the exception of the NRP, they have now taken the decision to boycott is an apparent 
indication that it was a last resort when all efforts to get minimum guarantees of a level playing field for free and fair were 
rejected by the authorities.

Of course everyone would have loved to see the opposition participate in the elections, but considering the prevailing 
political terrain in this country and the very fact that neither the government nor the Independent Electoral Commission 
(IEC) responsible for the conduct of the elections have shown any sincerity and willingness to conduct free and fair 
elections,  then most people have seen the justification for the opposition’s boycott of what they see as yet another 
sham elections which will only serve to legitimize the prevailing system.

While the boycott may not have an immediate impact because the APRC is already unopposed in 24 constituencies and 
they are also likely to win almost all the remaining 24 constituencies, and no doubt make a lot of noise about it, but the 
decision is still a strong statement which will show the international community that there is no democracy in the Gambia.
However, if the opposition had gone ahead and taken part in the elections, it would have only gone in the way of the 
presidential elections when public resources and the entire state machinery would have been employed to ensure that 
the APRC sweeps the polls, and yet, the opposition could not then turn around to cry foul, just like what happened 
during the presidential elections. Therefore, the only sensible thing was for them to do exactly what they have done, 
which is to boycott the elections rather than participate and legitimize this faulty system.

The very fact that despite attempts by the opposition to engage the IEC in discussions to effect some minimum electoral 
reforms, which were brushed aside, there is enough indication that there is no goodwill on the part of both the 
government and the IEC to level the political terrain. Therefore, the only sensible alternative is to boycott the elections. 
What is the point in wasting their money and time to participate in elections in which they are likely to end up being 
heavy losers, just like what happened in the presidential elections?

As long as the system remains as it is, with hardly any distinction between the state and the ruling APRC, it is foolhardy 
for any genuine opposition party to participate in the elections. It is quite inconceivable for instance, for the Secretary 
General and head of the civil service of a responsible government to be openly seen to participate in the selection 
process of APRC candidates, and yet for anyone in his/her right frame of mind to call that system credible. Of course Dr. 
Njogu Bah seems to have lost any credibility he may have been left with, and so is the very system he represents.
Indeed, this is yet another vindication of the stance taken by ECOWAS during the run up to the presidential elections 
when they categorically said that the electoral process was neither free nor fair. We all saw clearly what happened when 
President Jammeh’s campaign entourage was not only accompanied all over the country by virtually all senior civil 
servants, including the Secretary General, permanent secretaries, regional governors, as well as all senior officers of 
the army, the police and other security forces, all donned in party colours and singing and dancing for him, but we also 
saw the entire government machinery, including vehicles and other resources being mobilized to campaign for him.
We also witnessed both corporate and incorporated bodies contributing money and materials towards President 
Jammeh’s campaign, in naked violation of the electoral laws.

 For instance, whilst Section 104 (7) (a) of the Elections Decree states; “A political party shall not receive any 
contribution from any person who is not a citizen of The Gambia, or from any corporate or unincorporated body”, we all 
saw that being openly violated with impunity. One of those that donated campaign materials to the APRC, for instance, 
was none other than the Ministry of Petroleum, as well as several others including non-Gambians, in complete violation 
of both the law and the election code of conduct. Yet, the IEC not only ignored it as a non-event, but chairman 
Mustapha Carayol was on record confirming that President Jammeh was using state resources to conduct his campaign, 
but that it was normal in Africa for the incumbent to use state resources as well as mobilize the civil servants to 
campaign for him, which alone was clear indictment of his ability to run an independent electoral body let alone conduct 
free and fair elections.

We also saw how the Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS) was being manipulated in order to give more 
prominence to anything said or done by President Jammeh while not only playing down opposition activities, but using 
manipulation in order to negatively portray the opposition in a poor light. This is despite the promise made by the IEC 
chairman that he was going to ensure that all the candidates were given equal access to the media. Of course, it would 
be foolhardy for anyone to have expected anything different from a loyal APRC member like the Director General of the 
GRTS, Momodou Sanyang, who alone was responsible for regulating the broadcasts.

While the boycott would have been much more effective if there was unanimity, it is hard to see how the decision by the 
NRP to contest the elections would make any marked difference. Just like what happened in 2007, the NRP is not only 
likely to lose the elections, but its leader Hamat Bah also seems to have mortgaged his credibility by going it alone. 
Therefore, this is very likely to be the death knell of the NRP and Hamat Bah’s very political survival. It is hard to see 
how anyone would now ever take him as a serious stakeholder in the Gambia’s political terrain.
Therefore, for any semblance of free and fair elections to take place in The Gambia, there must be very radical electoral 
reforms which will level the playing field and give all stakeholders equal treatment as well as restrict the naked abuse of 
office by those in authority and the indiscriminate use of state resources by the ruling party.
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