By: Sainabou Sambou
Civil society organizations have strongly condemned the government’s seizure of an Alkalo’s official stamp in Nyagen village, describing the action as ill-advised and potentially unlawful, and warning that it risks disenfranchising numerous eligible voters in the ongoing supplementary voter registration exercise.
At a press briefing held in Kololi on Saturday, Marr Nyang, Executive Director of Gambia Participates (GP) and spokesperson for the Elections Watch Committee (EWC), raised serious concerns over the incident, which he said threatens citizens’ constitutional right to participate in the electoral process.
Nyang reminded the public that the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) had announced the supplementary voter registration period running from April 8 to May 21, 2026, to allow eligible Gambians who missed earlier registration to be added to the voter roll.
Under the Elections Act, 2025, citizens can register using various documents, including birth certificates, national ID cards, passports, or an attestation letter from an Alkalo or Seyfo. In rural communities like Nyagen, where formal identification documents are often scarce, attestations from traditional leaders remain a critical and widely accepted means of verifying citizenship and eligibility.
On April 9, 2026, the government announced it had taken Nyagen Alkalo’s stamp into secure custody, citing alleged misuse. The Alkalo reportedly admitted entrusting the stamp to his son. However, authorities provided no detailed evidence of specific abuse or irregularities linked to the stamp.
Domestic observers and independent accounts suggest the decision may have been influenced by the perceived political affiliations of the Alkalo rather than by concrete proof of wrongdoing. Nyang pointed out that it is a common and long-standing practice in The Gambia for Alkalolu, especially elderly or less literate ones, to delegate the use of their official stamps to trusted family members.
“Traditional leaders have the constitutional right to support political parties of their choice,” Nyang stressed, adding that the seizure appears to punish political expression rather than address genuine electoral fraud.
Civil society groups warned that the absence of the stamp could prevent many residents of Nyagen and surrounding areas from obtaining the necessary attestation, effectively blocking them from registering to vote. They highlighted additional logistical challenges at rural registration centers, such as Kataba Alhagie Omar, which operate for only a limited number of days, further narrowing the window for eligible voters.
Mr. Nyang argued that the move may violate constitutional protections, including the fundamental right to vote and safeguards against political discrimination.
The groups have called on the authorities to urgently return the stamp to the Nyagen Alkalo to avert further disenfranchisement. They also urged that any disputes regarding voter eligibility be resolved through established legal channels, such as the revising courts, rather than through arbitrary administrative actions.
The incident has heightened fears that political interference could undermine the credibility and inclusiveness of the voter registration process ahead of future elections.
