The recent council by-elections in Kaiaf Ward (Mansakonko Administrative Area) and Bantanjang Ward (Brikama Administrative Area) were marked by calm, responsible voter participation and a notably healthy information landscape, according to a preliminary report from Info-Checked, the country’s leading fact-checking organization.
The polls, held Saturday to fill vacant councillor seats following the deaths of previous officeholders in 2025, saw the National People’s Party (NPP) secure victories in both wards. The NPP has hailed the outcomes as a boost ahead of the December 2026 presidential election, while the United Democratic Party (UDP) conceded graciously and congratulated the winners.
In a report released today from its Elections Analysis Center (EAC), Info-Checked – operating under the Centre for Research & Policy Development described the process as “peaceful and well organized.” Voters demonstrated responsibility, calmness, and confidence in the electoral system, the organization stated.
A key highlight was the limited spread of disinformation and misinformation. The EAC, activated specifically for these local contests, monitored online platforms and community discussions in real time. Fact-checkers identified and countered only two cases of misleading or exaggerated claims related to the electoral process. No significant patterns of artificial manipulation emerged, and neither political parties nor their supporters played a significant role in spreading problematic narratives.
“Social media platforms were largely used in a constructive and responsible manner,” the report noted, with most election-related content remaining factual and verifiable. This contributed to a stable and clear information environment, reducing the need for extensive corrective interventions.
Info-Checked established the EAC as a dedicated hub at its Bijilo office, relying on open-source intelligence and trusted sources to track and verify claims. The initiative underscores the organization’s growing capacity in election monitoring, managed entirely in-house.
While commending voters, stakeholders, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), and communities for fostering transparency, the report offered forward-looking recommendations. These include bolstering local-level monitoring with community teams, investing in advanced fact-checking tools, expanding media literacy campaigns (especially in rural areas), deepening collaboration among parties, the IEC, media, and fact-checkers, and urging the IEC to maintain a more proactive social media presence for real-time updates and myth-busting.
Info-Checked concluded that the by-elections exemplified how transparent communication and responsible digital engagement can support credible polls. With the 2026 presidential race approaching, the organization vowed to continue deploying such mechanisms to safeguard information integrity across The Gambia.
