Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has received 12 presidential nomination submissions from 18 aspiring candidates expected to participate in The Gambia’s December 5, 2026 election.
However, the Commission’s assessment did not include the party that conducted its nomination exercise on Monday, including the United Democratic Party (UDP).
Six of the 18 aspirants have withdrawn before submitting their collected nomination papers, IEC Chairman Joseph Colley said.
The withdrawals involved the All Inclusive Party, Gambia Action Party and National Unity Party (NUP), which opted to join the Team Gambia Grand Coalition, as well as three independent aspirants: Musa Jallow, Ismaila Jobe and Alkali Cham.
The nomination exercise began on November 3 and is scheduled to close on November 14, ahead of the presidential election.
Of the 12 submissions received, four have yet to be processed because the required nomination deposits have not been paid. They include submissions from the Democratic Party, Salieu Jallow, Ali Yusuf and independent aspirant Joseph Henry Joof.
The Gambian Labor Party’s submission, sponsored by aspiring candidate Babakusa Dukureh, is also yet to be processed.
Chairman Colley said Dukureh had publicly acknowledged holding dual Gambian-American citizenship, while his Senior Secondary School Certificate had been referred to the relevant authorities for verification.
Bensouda Completes Nomination Requirements
Among the aspiring candidates, Talib Bensouda of UNITE is the only one who has submitted all the required nomination documents and completed the necessary requirements.
Colley said Bensouda’s nomination papers had been processed and that he was not required to provide additional documentation or signatures.
However, the IEC has not yet formally announced his approval as a presidential candidate, with the Commission expected to publish the list of endorsed candidates in due course.
Other aspirants are still working to meet the requirements, particularly the minimum number of supporting signatures from registered voters across the country’s administrative areas.
Former Vice President Dr Isatou Touray, contesting as an independent, has been asked to provide 12 additional signatures from the Kerewan Administrative Area to meet the regional requirement of 200.
Several Aspirants Face Additional Requirements
Modou Lamin Sima of the Alliance of Progressive Citizens (APC) must provide an additional 1,040 registered voters’ signatures to reach the national threshold of 5,000.
Ansu Sanneh of the National Builders Party is undergoing further citizenship verification and has also been asked to submit additional signatures to meet the required thresholds.
Another independent aspirant has been instructed to provide additional signatures across several administrative areas, as well as 2,310 more signatures to reach the national requirement.
Ebrima Tabora Manneh of the People’s Alliance Party must provide additional signatures from the Kanifing, Mansa Konko and Janjanbureh administrative areas, alongside 1,507 additional signatures nationally.
The Commission is also undertaking verification of some educational certificates submitted by aspiring candidates as part of the nomination process.
The IEC said the exercise remained ongoing and that more aspiring candidates were expected to submit their nomination papers before the November 14 deadline.
It pledged to continue updating the public on submissions received and processed, while stressing that the names of candidates who have formally satisfied the requirements would be announced in due course.
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