By: Sering Mass Jallow
Two members of Gambia’s Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) over the weekend issued a statement, condemning the government’s seizure of the Alkalo’s stamp of Nyagen Village in the Central River Region (CRR), calling for its immediate return.
Gambia Participates, an organization focused on fiscal transparency, anti-corruption, electoral reform and the rule of law, jointly issued the statement with the Elections Watch Committee (EWC).
The statement, issued on Saturday, 11 April 2026, followed the government’s decision on 9 April 2026 to take custody of the stamp over alleged misuse inconsistent with its intended administrative purpose.
According to reports, the decision came after the Governor of the Central River Region, Ousman Bah, together with his deputy, met the Alkalo of Nyagen Village and other district chiefs. During the meeting, the Alkalo reportedly confirmed that he had handed over the stamp to his son, a development that led to its seizure by authorities.
The government said the move was necessary to safeguard the integrity of the ongoing voter registration exercise in the village. However, the decision has triggered debate and concerns over accountability and electoral integrity in The Gambia.
In its statement, Gambia Participates described the seizure as “ill-advised, unjustified and potentially unlawful,” warning that it could infringe on the constitutional rights of residents.
“We state unequivocally that the temporary seizure of the Nyagen Alkalo’s stamp is ill-advised, unjustified and potentially a violation of the law, and has the effect of depriving bona fide Gambians of their inalienable right to vote,” the statement read.
The organisation further argued that the action might constitute a breach of constitutionally guaranteed rights of residents of Nyagen, who were entitled to participate in the electoral process under Gambian law.
The CSOs called on the Ministry of Lands, Local Government and Religious Affairs, through the Governor’s office in CRR, to ensure the immediate return of the stamp to prevent further disenfranchisement.
It also urged that disputes related to the supplementary voter registration process be handled strictly through established judicial mechanisms, particularly the revising courts, which it described as the appropriate forum for challenging entries in the voter register.
Additionally, Gambia Participates recommended reforms to the Elections Act, calling on the National Assembly to amend Section 13(2)(d) by removing the Alkalo’s attestation requirement as a means of establishing eligibility to vote.
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