Gainako Newspaper

...........ELECTIONS ARE NOW OVER:
... LESSONS, OBSERVATIONS AND THE WAY FORWARD
..................................By Demba Baldeh, Editor & Political analyst..............Posted February 5th, 2007

In Today’s editorial, Demba Baldeh, Editor and Political analyst examines the way forward for the
Gambia after the APRC swept the polls in both the Presidential and parliamentary elections.

The Presidential and Parliamentary elections are now history. What are the lessons and conclusions
Gambians can draw from such elections? What is the state of our democratic process, and the way
forward to salvage our dear Gambia from its present deteriorating political predicament?

If a bitter lesson is to be drawn from both the Presidential and Parliamentary elections, it is the clear indication that the fight
for the political life of our nation is far from being over. The elections explicitly revealed that the Gambian electorates are far
from being enlightened voters and also lack full consciousness of the whole exercise of their democratic rights and duties to
elect political representatives. Electing political representatives is not a seasonal celebration or a period where the strong
preys on the weak, or people take revenge on others they disagree with politically.

Elections are unique periods for citizens to exercise their civic duties in determining the manner of government of a state. It
is a duty that every citizen should take seriously and take pride in participating to hold their elected officials accountable. It
is not about drumming and camping endlessly across the country when real problems of the nation need some urgent
attention.

The elections showed an unprecedented low voter turnout either as a result of voter apathy or simply because of citizens’
lack of consciousness in the right to exercise their civic duties in deciding who represents them in government. The results
of these factors are what led to the APRC’S victory both at the Presidential and Parliamentary elections. These victories by
no means signify clear mandate for the government as majority of registered voters did not participate in the exercise.

There are several other lessons and conclusions we can draw from the election results. One of the most significant of
course is the lack of a level playing field for all parties to contest the elections. Level playing field here does not necessarily
mean APRC dominating in all angles, but rather the absence of a formidable opposition to contest fiercely against the
incumbent government. In another view, the Gambian electorates are far from being conscious about their democratic
rights.

The way forward is for a new breed of opposition to step on stage, sending the selfish and rather unpatriotic ones packing.
The new opposition-to-be must be loaded with a national spirit, and a spirit that will unite Gambians under one umbrella.
They must be ready to engage the current tyrannical administrator, Jammeh and his cronies, also a massive sensitization
project about civil education to Gambian voters. They should be ready to speak with one voice to say “NO” when it is no.

............© Copyright, 2006-2007: Gainako On-line Newspaper . Site Maintained by Gamway Computers