Independent Presidential Aspirant
By Landing Ceesay
Independent Presidential Aspirant Papa Faal, shortly after submitting his documents to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) said Gambian leaders should have zero-tolerance against corruption.
“The fight against corruption has been tough. The examples have to start with us, we have to be upright citizens as leaders, set an example and Gambian leaders should have zero-tolerance against corruption. We feel that right now there is so much leniency in terms of corrupt behaviours and corruption. I think that it is necessary to put in place strong deterrence so that the country can move forward and people can understand that corrupt behaviours are not going to be tolerated,” Faal said.
Talking about his plans for implementation when elected as president, the aspirant said: “We have had our manifesto since last year and in it, we have outlined five key points that we feel are necessary to move the country forward. Those are the citizens’ reorientation, citizens’ welfare, tax reform, civil service reform and combating corruption. Those are the things we plan to do for this country and as soon as we are elected, we will start the ground running.”
The nomination of presidential aspirants ended today (Friday) at the Election House in Kanifing with independent aspirant Faal, National Unity Party (NUP) and Democratic Party (DP) leaders filing their papers to the IEC.
The details of the 23 aspirants would on Saturday (tomorrow) be published for public scrutiny before the Electoral Commission would either accept or reject them.
For a successful nomination every aspirant should: be a citizen of The Gambia; attain a minimum age of thirty years; complete senior secondary school education; be ordinarily resident in The Gambia for the five years immediately preceding the election; be nominated by not less than five thousand voters whose names appeared in the register of voters with at least two hundred voters being drawn from each Administrative Area; present a sworn declaration of assets; present a tax clearance certificate; make payment of the deposit of Ten-thousand dalasi (D10, 000) as amended; have a representative symbol, colour and his/her photographs; be qualified as a voter under the Constitution and the Election Act may contest as an independent candidate in any election; shall abide by the code on election campaign ethics which the Commission may time to time prepare as a political party/candidate; and submit a manifesto which encourages the spirit of tolerance and multiculturalism.
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