Each Gambian is a sovereign being with political rights. The National Council for Civic Education is established to enable each Gambian to know his or her political rights.
Section 26 of the Constitution states : Every citizen of The Gambia of full age and capacity shall have the right, without unreasonable restrictions –
(a) to take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or through freely chosen representatives;
(b) to vote and stand for elections at genuine periodic elections for public office, which elections shall be by universal and equal suffrage and be held by secret ballot;
(c) to have access, on general terms of equality, to public service in The Gambia.’’
Section 26 has linked the right to representation with the right to have access to public services on general terms of equality.
Hence the purpose of standing for elections is to serve the public. The purpose for voting is to select public servants . The electorate should therefore be able to support the candidate of their choice without any conflict.
Section 104 of the Elections Act Subsection 3 states that “ The number of political parties shall not be limited by law and every citizen of the Gambia shall have the right freely to choose whether or not, he or she becomes a member of a political party and which party he or she supports.”
Exercise your political rights and let others do the same. This is the dictate of democracy and political maturity.
