Gambiaj.com – (Lower River Region, The Gambia) – Residents of Massembeh Ward casted their votes today in a crucial by-election to determine their next Councillor. The contest was a direct showdown between The Gambia’s two dominant political parties—the National People’s Party (NPP) and the United Democratic Party (UDP).

Massembeh Ward, located in the Lower River Region, comprises the villages of Massembeh, Kolior, Jomar, and Toranka. With a total of 1,753 registered voters—just 0.18% of The Gambia’s electorate—the election’s significance extends beyond numbers. For both NPP and UDP, it is a battle of political dominance, as each party seeks to assert its strength in the region and sends signals nationwide.

Peaceful Process So Far as Candidates Confident

The two candidates, Bakary Jarjue of NPP and Lamin Jarjue of UDP, arrived at their respective polling stations early in the morning, each escorted by senior party officials. Both contenders have expressed confidence in securing victory, despite voting still being underway.

Yakuba Manjang, Executive Director of Peace Ambassadors for Gambia and Coordinator of the Elections Watch Committee, confirmed that the voting process has been smooth and orderly.

“So far, we have observed all four polling stations, and the environment is very peaceful. People are turning out in numbers, voting, and then returning home to wait for the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to announce the results,” Manjang stated.

He further noted that election procedures were being strictly followed, including the use of indelible ink, secret voting, and proper voter identification against the electoral roll. “At this point, we have not encountered any critical incidents that would call the fairness of the election into question,” he added.

Authorities and IEC Assure Transparency

Seedy Lamin Bah, Governor of the Lower River Region, emphasized that the election is proceeding smoothly across all polling stations. “I have visited Kolior, Jomar, and Toranka, and everything is fine. This is the land of hope,” he remarked.

Meanwhile, Pa Makan Khan, spokesperson for the IEC, reassured of the commission’s commitment to ensuring a fair process.

With polling set to close, all eyes are on the IEC’s final announcement, as both political parties await what could be a defining result in the region.