The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has officially approved the registration of the United Movement for Change (UMC) and the All Inclusive Party (AIP) as new political parties, increasing the total number of registered parties in The Gambia to 24.
Credible sources with direct knowledge of the process have confirmed to The Alkamba Times that the IEC approved both parties on Tuesday after a thorough review of their applications. The UMC, led by Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda, faced initial hurdles due to missing documents but successfully addressed all concerns raised by the electoral body.
“The IEC has cleared the UMC after meticulously scrutinizing their application,” a top source familiar with the approval told The Alkamba Times. “They resolved the initial challenges, and everything is now in order.”
According to the source, the UMC leadership will be invited to the IEC next week for the official presentation of the registration approval certificate. This formal ceremony will allow the party to announce its registration to Gambians publicly.
The All Inclusive Party (AIP), under the leadership of Yiramang Darboe, was also approved alongside the UMC. AIP’s application has been pending since 2023, and the party has now met all legal requirements for registration.
In a related development, the IEC has taken steps to strengthen the integrity of the voter register. The commission has submitted a formal letter to the Chief Justice requesting the appointment of magistrates to preside over revising courts. This follows the identification of thousands of double registrations and other irregularities in the voter database.
Sources indicated that registered political parties will have the opportunity to challenge any cases of voter malpractice or discrepancies during the upcoming revising court sessions.
The approvals come at a significant time in Gambia’s political landscape, as the country prepares for the December presidential elections. Political analysts suggest that the entry of new parties like the UMC and AIP could further diversify the political arena and offer voters additional choices.
The IEC is expected to issue an official public statement in the coming days regarding the new registrations and the schedule for certificate presentations. Both UMC and AIP are anticipated to begin formal political activities shortly after receiving their certificates.
The source said the latest development underscores the IEC’s commitment to due diligence in the registration process while addressing ongoing concerns about electoral transparency and the accuracy of the voter register.
