By Buba Gagigo
Gambia Participates, a civil society organization dedicated to promoting fiscal transparency, fighting corruption, and strengthening democracy through improved electoral processes and the rule of law, alongside the Elections Watch Committee (EWC) -a non-partisan citizen observation platform formed through a partnership of seven organizations specializing in governance, youth participation, and gender inclusion -have both declared the Masembeh by-election free and fair.
“Having observed the by-elections in Massembeh, both Gambia Participates and EWC concluded that the outcome of the election reflected the will of voters in Massembeh. The process was transparent, free, and fair. Although there were critical incidents, however, these incidents were isolated and did not thwart the will of the voters. This election observation mission highlights the importance of civil society collaboration in ensuring transparency, accountability, and credibility in electoral processes in The Gambia. By working together, Gambia Participates and the EWC reinforce their devotion to making sure that elections are conducted according to the laws of The Gambia and ensure credibility in the entire electoral process,” they reported.
The by-election took place on February 22, 2025, in Massembeh Ward, Lower River Region (LRR), following the passing of Councilor Bakary Korita on November 12, 2024.