Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Mayor of Banjul, Rohey Malick Lowe, has issued a scathing condemnation of what she describes as the unlawful registration of very young children on The Gambia’s voters’ roll, branding the practice as “child abuse” and a direct assault on democratic integrity.
In a strongly worded statement, the mayor said the country had reached a “troubling crossroads,” accusing political actors of descending into the “recruitment of babies as voters” in a desperate bid for power. She dismissed the issue as far more than an administrative lapse, insisting it represents a deliberate and morally indefensible act.
“This is not merely an irregularity. This is not a simple administrative error. This is an abuse of our children,” she declared, warning that involving minors in electoral processes constitutes “a crime against their innocence” and undermines the very foundations of democracy.
The mayor, speaking as both a public official and a grandmother, denounced what she termed the “weaponization” of children’s identities for political gain. She questioned the conscience of those allegedly behind the practice, asking why they would not subject their own children or grandchildren to the same treatment.
“How does any leader of conscience look upon a child and say, ‘Your name shall help me win an election?’” she asked.
Directing sharp criticism at opposition actors, the mayor accused them of attempting to manipulate the electoral process through “corruption and child exploitation.” She warned that such tactics would not secure electoral victory and instead called for a return to ethical political engagement.
“To the opposition, if you think you can win elections through this thread of corruption and child exploitation — forget it. Go back to the drawing board,” she said.
The mayor further stressed that minors lack the legal and moral capacity to participate in elections, noting that they cannot consent or understand the implications of being registered. She vowed not to tolerate or legitimize the situation, stating unequivocally that she would refuse to stand alongside minors at polling stations.
“This can be considered nothing less than child abuse,” she asserted. “I will not stand beside a child at a polling station, and I will not rest until this abuse stops.”
Calling on parents and guardians across the country to remain vigilant, she urged them to protect their children from being used as “currency in the marketplace of power.”
The mayor concluded by warning that those responsible cannot claim patriotism while undermining the rights and future of the nation’s youngest citizens, framing the issue as a moral crisis that transcends political rivalry.
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