President Adama Barrow, Secretary General and Party Leader National People’s Party
The National People’s Party (NPP) has taken note of the recent press release by the United Democratic Party (UDP) regarding the National Assembly’s decision on March 5th, 2025, to remove Clause 14 from the elections bill, which pertained to diaspora voting. While the UDP has sought to portray this decision as a failure to prioritize the rights of Gambians abroad, the NPP wishes to set the record straight and provide clarity on the matter.
- The National Assembly’s Decision:
The decision by the National Assembly Members (NAMs) to remove Clause 14 was not made out of indifference to diaspora voting but was based on a careful consideration of the constitutional requirements for constituency-based registration and voting. The Constitution of The Gambia, particularly Section 39(1), ties voter registration to National Assembly constituencies, which are geographically defined. The current legal framework does not provide for non-geographical constituencies or a mechanism for diaspora voting without first establishing clear guidelines for constituency demarcation.
The NPP-led National Assembly is committed to ensuring that any electoral reforms, including those related to diaspora voting, are implemented in a manner that is constitutionally sound and upholds the integrity of our electoral process. Rushing to include diaspora voting without addressing the constitutional and logistical challenges would have been irresponsible and could have led to legal disputes and electoral malpractices. The removal of Clause 14 was therefore a prudent decision to allow for further consultation and the development of a comprehensive framework for diaspora voting.
2. The UDP’s Actions:
The UDP’s criticism of the NPP-led National Assembly is hypocritical and fails to acknowledge their own inaction on diaspora voting when they held a majority in the National Assembly from 2018 to 2022. During their tenure, the UDP had the opportunity to prioritize diaspora voting and introduce the necessary legislative reforms. Instead, they chose to focus on other electoral amendments that served their political interests, while ignoring the rights of Gambians abroad.
The UDP’s sudden advocacy for diaspora voting now that they are in the minority is a clear indication that their concern is not genuine but rather a political manoeuvre to score points against the NPP. Their attempts to influence the NAMs on this issue are disingenuous, given their failure to act when they had the power to do so.
3. Inconsistency in the UDP’s Advocacy:
The UDP’s newfound enthusiasm for diaspora voting is inconsistent with their track record on electoral reform. When they held a majority in the National Assembly, they prioritized amendments that benefited their political agenda but conspicuously ignored the issue of diaspora voting. For example:
a. Act No. 5 of 2017: The UDP-led National Assembly amended Section 62(1)(b) of the Constitution to remove the cap on the age of presidential candidates, but they did not address diaspora voting.
b. Act No. 10 of 2017: They amended Section 194(c) of the Constitution to allow for the direct election of mayors and chairpersons, yet again, diaspora voting was not on their agenda.
c. Act No. 11 of 2017: They deleted Section 91(1)(d) of the Constitution, which required National Assembly members to vacate their seats if they left their political party, but they made no effort to enfranchise Gambians abroad.
These examples demonstrate that the UDP’s sudden advocacy for diaspora voting is not driven by a genuine commitment to electoral reform but by their desire to politicize the issue now that they are in the opposition.
These actions clearly show that the UDP had no real commitment to diaspora voting when they were in power. Their current criticism of the NPP-led National Assembly is therefore unfounded and reflects their opportunistic approach to electoral reform.
Conclusion:
The NPP-led National Assembly remains committed to ensuring that all Gambians, including those living abroad, can exercise their right to vote in a manner that is constitutionally sound and upholds the integrity of our electoral process. The decision to remove Clause 14 from the elections bill was made after careful consideration of the constitutional and logistical challenges involved in implementing diaspora voting. We are committed to working with all stakeholders to develop a comprehensive framework for diaspora voting that addresses these challenges.
The UDP’s criticism of this decision is hypocritical and ignores their own failure to prioritize diaspora voting when they had the power to do so. Their sudden advocacy for this issue is a political manoeuvre rather than a genuine concern for electoral reform. The NPP calls on the UDP to stop politicizing this important issue and to work constructively with the National Assembly to ensure that all Gambians, both at home and abroad, can participate fully in our democratic process.
Signed
National People’s Party (NPP) 7th March 2025