The race for Gambia’s presidency is taking shape. On Thursday 12 November, the Independent Electoral Commission released its first update on nominations for the 5 December vote, accepting five candidates. President Adama Barrow, who is running for a third term, is on the list alongside Ousainou Darboe, leader of the United Democratic Party, Talib Ahmed Bensouda of the UNITE movement, independent Isatou Touray and Modou Lamin Sima of the Alliance of Progressive Citizens.
Two other hopefuls will go no further. Bakusa Dukureh of the Gambia Labour Party acknowledged holding dual nationality, and checks found that his secondary school certificate was fake. Kebba Madi Bojang of the NDP submitted documents with birth dates twenty years apart, 1995 on his school records and 1975 on his identity card.
The case drawing the most attention is that of Lamin J. Darbo. The constitutional lawyer from Gunjur was chosen as flagbearer of the Team Gambia grand coalition and filed his nomination on Wednesday. He stepped down as leader of the National Unity Party, as the coalition agreement requires its candidate to run as an independent. More importantly, he said he is no longer a British citizen. That matters because dual nationals cannot run for president, and his opponents had attacked him on the issue for months. Last year the same question shut him out of the United Democratic Party’s internal contest. The commission has processed his file but is still verifying his renunciation of British citizenship. He is one of six aspirants asked to provide further documents, whether proof of nationality or additional voter signatures. The review of nominations is due to end on Saturday 14 November.
Alliances have shifted as well. In July, Barrow’s National People’s Party joined forces with the Gambia Democratic Congress of Mama Kandeh, a former rival of the president. Ousainou Darboe, for his part, has teamed up with Gambia For All, led by former vice president Bakary Bunja Dabo.
Party leaders are also trying to reassure voters about the mood of the campaign. On Thursday, party chiefs and aspirants were due to sign a commitment to peaceful elections, backed by the Inter-Party Committee with UNDP support. The gesture carries weight in a country where police have required a permit for any protest since September, following unrest over power cuts.