By Sainey M.K. Marenah, Shout- Africa.com Chief Correspondent in the Gambia – The Independent Electoral Commission, IEC, yesterday received and accepted the nomination of three presidential candidates for the forthcoming presidential election slated for 24th November. Incumbent President Yahya Jammeh of the ruling Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC) party, Hamat Bah, an independent candidate under the banner of the newly-formed United Front of four opposition parties and Lawyer Ousainou Darboe of the main opposition United Democratic Party, UDP, will be seeking the mandate of Gambians. The nomination, held at Election House in Kanifing with lots of fanfare, will... Continue Reading
By Sainey M.K. Marenah, Shout-Africa Bureau Chief in Banjul with support from Point Newspaper – The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) will today conduct nomination of candidates for the much-awaited presidential election in which incumbent President Yahya Jammeh will be seeking a fourth term of office, in just two weeks’ time. The nomination, to be followed by the 11-day official campaign period, is expected to be held at the Election House between 10-am to 3 pm. While it is not yet clear which opposition parties are to put up candidates for the presidency, sources have told this paper that Ouasinou Darboe of... Continue Reading
By Shout-Africa.com/Liberia Election Report Project – Vote counting is underway in Liberia after a presidential run-off that was boycotted by the challenger, leaving President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf poised to win a second term. Election observers said the first round of voting was generally free and fair. Observers have said voter turnout for Tuesday’s poll was very low, sparking concerns that opposition supporters will reject the outcome and that political violence will erupt. Opposition candidate Winston Tubman of the Congress for Democratic Change dropped out of the poll after accusing the electoral commission of fraud. Mr. Tubman said Wednesday his party... Continue Reading
By Shout-Africa.com/Liberia Election Report Project – US President Barack Obama before the vote on 8th November, 2011, dismissed Tubman’s fraud concerns as unfounded and scolded him over his boycott call, warning gains by Liberia “must not be set back by individuals who seek to disrupt the political process.” The election had been expected to consolidate peace and confirm Liberia’s democratic credentials, but a boycott call by challenger Winston Tubman and a deadly shooting poisoned the West African country’s second post-war vote. Tubman, a 70-year-old Harvard-trained former diplomat, had threatened to boycott the run-off if the election commission chairman did not... Continue Reading
By Shout-Africa Gambia Correspondent – Fanta J. Sowe, women’s rights manager at ActionAid International The Gambia, has described the independent media as one of the most important tools for promoting equal rights for women and for combating corruption. Ms Sowe made this statement recently while presenting a paper at the closing of a two-week intensive training course on accountability and governance. She stressed that when the state, political parties or private interests control the media, or when it can be bought, it will be less likely to give fair coverage of women’s issues. “Corruption reduces public revenues, often resulting in... Continue Reading
