Civil society group Gambia Participates has sued the mayor of Banjul Rohey Malick Lowe, the Independent Electoral Commission and the Attorney General over the mayor’s power to issue birth attestation.
A row has erupted over the IEC empowering the mayor of Banjul to issue attestation amid Banjul not having either an alkalo or chief. Gambians have been protesting the decision.
And Gambia Participates has now sued both the Mayor and the IEC as well as the attorney general challenging the legality of the decision.
“It is our contention the unlawful issuance of attestation to constituents is not in conformity with the relevant laws of The Gambia, therefore a serious contravention of the Elections Act at the instance of both the Mayor of Banjul and the Independent Election Commission,” Gambia Participates said in a press release.
In their suit filed on Wednesday, Gambia Participates wants a declaration from the high court that the actions of the Mayor of Banjul in issuing attestation to constituents of the City of Banjul in the ongoing Independent Electoral Commission general voter registration violate the electoral act.
The group also want a declaration the actions of the IEC in conferring the power to the office of the mayor to administer attestation forms generated by the IEC for the purpose of claiming voter’s cards in Banjul violate the electoral act.
The group wants the high court to quash the decision of the IEC to bestow upon the mayor of Banjul the authority and power to issue attestation to constituents in Banjul. The group also wants the high court to set aside all attestation forms endorsed and or issued by the mayor of Banjul for which voter’s cards were issued by the IEC.
The group finally wants the high court to cancel all voter’s cards issued by the IEC that were supported by attestation forms issued or endorsed by the mayor of Banjul.
