Gambiaj.com – (Banjul, The Gambia) – Mr. Alhagie Alieu Momarr Njie, Chairman of The Gambia’s Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), has announced his retirement at the end of this month, also marking the end of his tenure, bringing an end to a significant chapter in the nation’s electoral history.

Njie’s tenure at the helm of the IEC was marked by landmark elections, most notably the historic 2016 presidential election that led to the defeat of longtime Gambian leader Yahya Jammeh and the subsequent democratic transition. His leadership during that period was widely acknowledged for upholding the integrity of the electoral process despite immense political pressure.

Under his stewardship, the IEC managed multiple national and local elections, ensuring The Gambia’s electoral system adhered to democratic principles.

However, Njie’s election administration became problematic for the largest opposition party, particularly after the United Democratic Party’s leader, Ousainou Darboe, fell out with President Adama Barrow.

After the December 4, 2021 presidential election resulted in President Barrow’s second term, the UDP petitioned the Supreme Court, claiming that Barrow and his party members promised cash in exchange for votes. It further claimed that the election was illegitimate because many foreign nationals had purportedly voted, among other issues.

The court eventually rejected the petition, paving the path for Barrow to serve a legitimate second term.

Although Alieu Momarr Njie oversaw the implementation of on-the-spot counting, which helped to create a more transparent presidential election in 2016, his failure to update and replace the antiquated marbles and drums voting system with paper ballots and his inaction to mandate voting by the Gambian Diaspora will continue to be the dark spots in his tenure as IEC chairman.

Meanwhile, the formal inquiry into issues brought up by a National Audit Office (NAO) report on the Independent Electoral Commission’s (IEC) financial practices has clouded the final year of Alieu Momarr Njie’s tenure.

A number of financial irregularities and internal control errors were noted in the report, which covered the period from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2023. These findings suggested that the country’s election body may have embezzled millions of dalasis in public money.

Alieu Momarr Njie’s retirement comes at a crucial time as the country prepares for the 2026 elections, with concerns over who will succeed him and how the IEC will navigate forthcoming political contests.

As The Gambia reflects on Njie’s contributions, political analysts note that his departure marks the end of an era, one defined by resilience and commitment to democratic governance. The search for his successor is expected to be a matter of keen national interest, with stakeholders emphasizing the need for a transparent and credible transition within the IEC.

Njai has yet to comment on his future plans, but his retirement signals a significant shift in The Gambia’s electoral landscape.