The Independent Electoral Commission has been asked to close Kanilai voter registration centre after angry residents attacked voter monitoring team of the United Democratic Party.
In a statement issued by the United Democratic Party condemned the attacked and said: “I once again ask the IEC with immediate effect to close this registration centre at Kanilai until such a time it can operate within the rules of the IEC and the laws of The Gambia.
“As Organising Secretary, I condemn any of our supporters from engaging in any form of activity and comments that violate our party principles of peace and unity and that go against the laws of our Country. After review of the video of the attack circulating on social media, I would like to thank the members of the Voter Registration Coordinating Committee for exercising restraint and leaving the village of Kanilai peacefully.”
“Today I’m saddened to learn that some residents of Kanilai have not allowed any agent to sit at the voter registration centre in their village. IEC is aware of this and has sat passively by. This morning our voter registration coordinating committee was assaulted and our party vehicle window was broken by some disgruntled villagers. This is unacceptable and I urge the police to take immediate action against all the perpetrators without delay.
“The UDP is a peaceful party and believes in the coexistence of all parties and we will remain as such. No party agents have been barred by UDP supporters to sit at any registration centre across the country and no party monitoring teams have been harassed anywhere across the country by our supporters.
“The UDP will continue to abide by the law and preach peace and unity amongst all Gambians regardless of tribe, creed or political dispensation and I ask all our supporters to continue as such. I condemn this attack on our monitoring team in the strongest of terms and I reiterate that they have the right to visit every registration centre across the country without harassment or provocation. Our party’s Deputy Organising Secretary Mr Ebrima Dibba (My Deputy) has been attacked and injured and our party vehicle has been damaged,” the party’s Secretary General Ousainou Darboe said.
