Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Mayor of Banjul, Rohey Malick Lowe, has warned that many residents of the capital risk being disenfranchised after the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) announced that voter registration in the city will no longer accept attestations.
In a strongly worded statement, the mayor said the decision threatens the long-standing practice that allowed residents without formal identification to rely on attestations issued by the mayor’s office in order to register and vote.
“For decades, since independence, the City of Banjul has upheld an inclusive democratic tradition, ensuring that no citizen is left behind in the exercise of their right to vote,” Mayor Lowe said.
Historically, the mayor explained, Banjul residents lacking official documentation could obtain attestations from the mayor’s office to participate in national elections. This practice existed because the capital does not have traditional authorities such as alkalos or seyfos who normally provide such attestations in other parts of the country.
However, the mayor noted that a High Court ruling delivered on 13 July 2021 determined that the Office of the Mayor no longer has the legal authority to issue these attestations.
While stressing respect for the court’s decision, the mayor warned that the ruling has created a serious gap in the voter registration process for residents of the capital.
“Banjul is unique. As the capital, it does not have the traditional administrative structures that exist elsewhere in The Gambia,” the statement said.
The mayor cautioned that many law-abiding citizens could now be excluded from the electoral process simply because they lack formal identification and no longer have access to attestation mechanisms that remain available to voters in other parts of the country.
“This is not just a legal issue but a matter of fairness, equity, and democratic integrity,” the mayor said, adding that the situation risks making upcoming electoral processes “fundamentally unequal” for the people of Banjul.
Mayor Lowe also expressed concern that, five years after the court ruling, no alternative mechanism has been introduced to address the situation in the capital.
“My decision not to run for election again will not negate my responsibility to the people of my city,” the mayor said, urging national authorities to act swiftly.
The mayor called on the IEC and the National Assembly of The Gambia to urgently introduce corrective measures, including expanding access to national identification or establishing a lawful alternative attestation system for Banjul residents.
“Democracy must be inclusive. Every citizen matters. And every voice deserves to be heard,” the mayor said, adding that the capital “deserves nothing less.”
Leave a Reply