IPC Receives 60 Complaints During Presidential Election Campaign

By Ramatoulie Jawo

The Inter-Party Committee (IPC) has disclosed receiving 60 complaints during the campaign of the just concluded presidential election. 

“During the week leading to the election, IPC received a total of 60 telephone calls reporting cases of personal attacks; hate speech, physical attacks of militants and damages to billboards and party paraphernalia. Most callers were men and the few women callers complained of gender-based attacks. IPC monitored the implementation of its MoU and Code of Conduct and ‘Janjanbureh Peace Accord’, paying attention to the incidents of hate speech, violence, and gender-based violence,” the committee Co-chair Hon. Musa Amul Nyassi told the press earlier today.

He highlighted efforts made by the committee towards the conduct of peaceful elections.

“The IPC implemented other activities that contributed to a peaceful election, including just to mention a few: peace messaging in Mandinka, Wolof, Jola, Fula and Serahulleh languages using jingles and videos aired in televisions, national and community radios, and social media platforms across the country. The jingles also urged listeners to monitor and report to IPC violations of the IPC MoU and Code of Conduct and the ‘Janjangbureh Peace Accord’ committed to by political party leaders, candidates, and supporters,” he added. 

Nyassi, who doubles as the National Assembly Member for Foni Kansala informed the gathering about the IPC’s plan for the parliamentary elections in April 2022. 

“IPC will establish a situation room to monitor the implementation of its MOU, Code of Conduct and document complaints from members of the public against the conduct of IPC members, party leaders and their supporters concerning breaches to its Code of Conduct and the IEC Code on Election Campaign Ethics,” he said. 

Hon. Nyassi made these remarks at a press conference by the IPC held at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara Conference Centre earlier today. 

Political parties established the IPC as a forum for dialogue and cooperation to promote their MoU and code of conduct as well as promote national reconciliation and ensure consensus building among them on contested political and electoral issues.