Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Gambia’s Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has announced the dates for the country’s next electoral cycle, unveiling a calendar that sets the presidential election for 5 December 2026 and the National Assembly elections for 10 April 2027.
IEC Chairman Joseph Colley made the announcement on Thursday at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center during the launch of the 2026–2027 Election Calendar and a consultative forum with national stakeholders and international partners.
According to Colley, councilor elections will be held on 22 May 2027, while mayors and chairpersons will be elected on 26 June 2027.
A supplementary voter registration exercise is also scheduled from 1 April to 14 May 2026, adding to the existing register compiled in 2021.
Innovation in Electoral Management
Colley highlighted a key qualitative innovation in the coming electoral cycle: the IEC’s decision to hold the four elections on separate dates instead of clustering them together.
He said this approach was informed by legal requirements as well as considerations of logistics, transparency, and integrity.
“This arrangement ensures that each stage of the process is managed with the highest level of attention, reducing the risk of errors and reinforcing credibility,” he explained.
Building Confidence from Registration to Results
The IEC Chair stressed that strengthening public trust in the electoral process will be central to the Commission’s work over the next two years.
He said the Commission’s new 2025–2029 Strategic Plan prioritizes inclusivity and transparency, with measures aimed at engaging political parties, civil society, the media, and international partners throughout the electoral cycle.
“We seek to include all stakeholders in our activities to ensure increased understanding of the process and in so doing build trust and confidence,” Colley said.
He also pledged that the Commission would operate with “respect for the rule of law, accountability, and fair play,” while keeping its doors open for clarifications to counter misinformation and fake news.
Colley reminded political parties of their responsibility to comply with the law and uphold peace and tolerance.
He cautioned individuals claiming to form political parties without proper registration, stressing that the IEC will only recognize parties that meet the stipulated legal requirements.
Commitment to Credible Elections
Reassuring Gambians of the IEC’s impartiality, Chairman Colley said, “The Commission would like to reassure the electorate and all stakeholders of its continued commitment and resolve to deliver free, fair, transparent, inclusive, and credible elections to Gambians at all times.”
He thanked the Gambian government and international partners—including the UNDP, AU, ECOWAS, and EU—for their support, urging stakeholders to continue working with the Commission to ensure a peaceful and successful electoral cycle.
