The Edward Francis Small Centre for Rights and Justice (EFSCRJ) on Thursday released its Election Watch Status Report, urging immediate action to protect the integrity of The Gambia’s December 2026 presidential election.
The report forms part of the organization’s Election Watch Initiative, established to monitor the political and electoral environment independently. EFSCRJ said a free and fair election depends on the conduct of all stakeholders throughout the entire electoral cycle, not solely on Election Day.
As presidential aspirants emerge, alliances form, and campaign activities intensify, the center highlighted several worrying trends. These include derogatory and inflammatory political rhetoric, abuse of incumbency, involvement of public and traditional authorities in partisan politics, selective application of the law, the growing influence of money in politics, unequal coverage by the public broadcaster GRTS, and weak enforcement of electoral rules.
Of particular concern, the report noted, is the rise in insulting and demeaning language by political actors across the spectrum. While robust debate, criticism and satire are protected, EFSCRJ stressed that discourse must not promote discrimination, hostility, polarisation or violence. Political leaders, it said, have a special duty to restrain supporters and focus on issue-based competition.
The absence of an effective campaign finance framework also drew strong criticism. The centre pointed to the conspicuous display of vehicles, motorbikes, materials and other resources by parties, raising questions about funding sources and the creation of an uneven playing field.
EFSCRJ further flagged selective law enforcement and the risk that state institutions, including GRTS, could be used to favor the incumbent or disadvantage opponents. It called on the Independent Electoral Commission to strengthen monitoring and enforcement. It urged political parties, the Inter-Party Committee, law enforcement agencies, the public broadcaster, civil society and election observers to intensify efforts to safeguard a peaceful and credible process.
“The Gambia cannot afford a flawed election, nor can we wait until Election Day to address conditions capable of producing electoral disputes and violence. The time to prevent electoral malpractice and election violence is now,” the statement declared.
EFSCRJ emphasized that its work is independent of any party or candidate and aims solely to defend the Constitution, electoral integrity and citizens’ right to choose their leaders freely. It called on Gambians to remain vigilant, reject hate speech, tribalism, disinformation, vote-buying and violence, and demand accountability from all political actors and institutions.
The organization pledged to continue monitoring, documenting and reporting violations while highlighting positive practices under the banner: Free Elections. Fair Competition. Equal Treatment. Peaceful Gambia.
