By Kemo Kanyi
The United Democratic Party (UDP) has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the integrity of The Gambia’s voter register, saying its objections to some registrations are based on concerns identified by its legal and electoral teams.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the opposition party said it had exercised its legal right to challenge registrations where it identified what it described as concerns about the authenticity or eligibility of applicants, as well as the circumstances under which certain national documents may have been obtained.
“The UDP’s position has consistently been that the integrity of the voters’ register must be protected through lawful, transparent and evidence-based processes,” the party said.
It noted that the Independent Electoral Commission’s electoral process provides for objections and appeals, followed by hearings before the Revising Courts. The IEC’s 2026 electoral calendar provides for Revising Court hearings on voter-registration objections from 22 July to 21 September.
The UDP said its legal team had presented evidence in a number of cases and claimed that the courts had upheld several of its objections.
It further said some proceedings had raised questions about how certain individuals obtained Gambian national documents, including voters’ cards, and whether they were eligible to register as voters.
The party said the objections should not be interpreted as hostility towards immigrants, arguing that there was a distinction between respecting immigrants and ensuring that national documentation and electoral rights were obtained in accordance with the law.
The UDP said individuals who qualify for naturalization or other forms of legal regularization should be assisted in following the appropriate procedures established by Gambian law.
It maintained that protecting the integrity of the electoral process should not be equated with opposition to immigration.
“The concern is not where a person comes from but whether the law was followed and whether the electoral process is being respected,” the party said.
The UDP also alleged that individuals should not be recruited, documented or granted political rights for the purpose of influencing an election.
It said such practices, if they occurred, could undermine public confidence in national institutions and the electoral system, while potentially exploiting vulnerable people.
The party said its position was to protect the integrity of the vote, respect the dignity of individuals and ensure that electoral processes were administered according to the law.
The statement comes as Revising Courts continue to hear objections arising from the 2026 supplementary voter registration exercise. The IEC has said the courts are independent and that the commission would not interfere in their deliberations.
Recent court proceedings have resulted in some objections being struck out, including cases where objectors or their representatives failed to appear in court, while other citizenship and voter-registration disputes remain before the courts.