By Ramatoulie Jawo
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has accepted the nomination of five Alliance for Patriotic, Reorientation, and Construction (APRC) aspiring councilor candidates who tendered their nominations to the commission yesterday.
The acceptance of their nomination was confirmed by the IEC Returning Officer for the Kanifing Municipality (KM) Mr. Joseph Colley.
The former ruling Party’s five aspiring Councilors for the KM are;
Pa Lamin Gibba, Abuko ward, Mariama Ndong Gibba, Bundung six junction, Baboucarr Mansally, Tallinding North, Tijan Jarju New Jeswang Ebo Town Ward, and Lamin Tombong Gibba, Kotu Manjai Ward.
Mr. Colley, who is also the Vice Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission, said, after going through all the documents provided by the candidates, they found all their documents were intact and there were no objections and therefore handing over of acceptance letters to them means they are qualified to contest in the upcoming elections.
Mr. Lamin Tombong Gibba, APRC Candidate for Kotu Manjai Ward, expressed his happiness for being accepted by the IEC returning officer for KM.
“It was not a surprise for me, because I knew that I really qualify as a Gambian who is educated and part of the educated Elites of this country. That is why when I was accepted to contest again for re-election. I make sure that I gathered all the required documents by the IEC just to be accepted as a candidate to contest,” He said.
Mr. Gibba said the Nomination is just a gateway to the election, as he asks his supporters to have their voters cards in their hands so that they can re-elect him back to the council.
“I always said that I am a politician with a difference. I just got into politics to serve my community of the disregard they are having. Because they were not considered at all. My area was not developed at all. But the time I came into office, I started bringing development by building markets and providing water for my people,” he added.
Mr. Pa Lamin Gibba, APRC Candidate for Abuko Ward who is also seeking re-election, said receiving the acceptance letter was not a surprise to him.
Mr. Gibba called on his constituents to not let politics divide them. He said they are all one people. He said the Abuko area is known for its unity of purpose.
Mrs. Mariama Ndong-Gibba, APRC Candidate for Bundung Six Junction, said she is confident that she would emerge victorious.
Mrs. Ndong-Gibba said she has seen the weaknesses in her area and that she is ready to work tirelessly to address the challenges with the National Assembly Member for Bundungka Kunda, Hon. Sulayman Jammeh.
Mr. Tijan Jarju, APRC Candidate for New Jeswang -Ebo Town Ward, said if elected, he will closely work with his constituents.
“I am really ready to change the narrative. Because it has been long overdue since they started crying about the development of the New Jeswang Ebo Town Ward. That is where we were born and brought up, and we have seen what happened in Ebo Town and New Jeswang, and we are very committed to come and change the narrative” he said
Baboucarr Mansally, Tallinding North, who is also seeking re-election, said he is confident of winning again, reiterating that he has a track record that will garner his constituent’s trust to re-elect him again.
“We have a hundred reasons why they should vote for me Because we have done something in our community that I will be proud enough to tell them what I have done for the people of Tallinding North. And the most important thing of all, we try to unite our people. Because when we were coming into power, that was during the impasse. We all know how the Gambia was, but we try to bring them together to unite them.” he started.
According to the IEC schedule, candidates for the Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC) and Gambia Action Party (GAP) are expected to file their nomination papers across IEC Offices in the country tomorrow.