National Assembly Building
By Ramatoulie Jawo
The National Assembly on Monday debated a controversial clause in the election bill, which mandates attestation from local leaders—either an Alkalo or Seyfo—to certify Gambian citizenship. The provision has sparked a sharp division among lawmakers, with some championing it as vital for ensuring the integrity of voter registration, while others argue it risks opening the door to fraudulent citizenship claims.
Clause 13 of the bill outlines the qualifications for voter registration, specifying that a citizen is eligible if they are over the age of eighteen, a resident or born in a constituency, and can provide one of several forms of documentation. These include a birth certificate, a Gambian passport, a National Identity Card, or an attestation from an Alkalo or Seyfo confirming Gambian nationality.
A report by the National Assembly’s Joint Committee on Local Government and Human Rights recommended amendments to the clause, suggesting the removal of the Seyfo’s role in the attestation process. The committee proposed that the clause be redrafted to allow attestation only from an Alkalo, a village head, and that Clause 13(3) be expunged altogether.
“That the noun Seyfo in Clause 13(2)(d) be removed, that Clause 13(3) be expunged from the Bill, the committee further proposed that Clause 13(2)(d) be redrafted to read as an attestation from an Alkalo certifying that he or she is a Gambia.” Sulayman Saho, a representative for Central Badibou, voiced strong objections, warning that granting attestation power solely to an Alkalo or Seyfo could undermine the credibility of the electoral process. He argued that the Alkalo alone should not be responsible for certifying citizenship without the involvement of other community elders, who traditionally confirm a person’s status.
“But if you give the power to the Alkalo alone and the Seyfo, a Seyfo who does not know my community. He is sitting far away, sometimes will not come to my village for more than a year. So this attestation is very important to the credibility of our elections. So let us not mess up ourselves. So please let’s take this out,” he said.
However, the member for Lower Saloum, Hon. Lamin Ceesay, countered that the existing process was constitutionally sound. Ceesay stressed that obtaining a birth certificate and an attestation from the Alkalo—stamped by the Seyfo—was a necessary step in acquiring a national identity card or passport. He called for the clause to remain as originally written.
Meanwhile, Hon. Lamin Ceesay of Kiang West argued that election laws should be subject to the strictest scrutiny, as they directly influence the country’s governance. He suggested that attestation from local leaders was unnecessary, emphasizing that any eligible voter, as a legal adult, should be able to obtain a birth certificate and a National Identity Card without the need for additional validation.
“Attestation is what we are saying here. A full-grown man or a woman who is 18 years old should be able to get our national birth certificate, our national identity card because these are very important documents for one to get. So Alkalo attestation should be removed from the bill,” he said.
In contrast, Hon. Abdoulie Ceesay, representing Old Yundum, defended the role of both Seyfos and Alkalos. He pointed out that these leaders are appointed by the government and hold local authority, making them well-suited to provide attestation, particularly in rural areas where national identity documents may be harder to obtain.
“So I think giving the attestation is good for us because these are government documents as well, the attestation is good. Somebody in the provinces cannot have an ID card and a passport, the only thing he can have is a birth certificate that goes with an attestation,” he said.
Following a lengthy debate, Speaker Fabakary T. Jatta emphasized that traditional community leaders are the most reliable sources of proof of citizenship, as they are intimately familiar with the birth records in their areas. He noted that the foundational documents of citizenship are rooted in local communities, not in government-issued cards.
Ultimately, after a heated exchange, the Speaker called for a vote. The majority of lawmakers opted to maintain the clause in the bill, including the attestation provision, though with minor adjustments.
The debate highlighted the tensions between tradition and modernization in The Gambia’s electoral framework, with both sides offering compelling arguments on the role of local leadership in verifying citizenship. As the election bill moves forward, it remains to be seen whether the final version will reflect the concerns raised by lawmakers.