IEC Sets Nov. 3-14 for Presidential Nominations, Forms Available Sept. 21

By Makutu Manneh

The Independent Electoral Commission has set Nov. 3 through Nov. 14 for the nomination of candidates seeking to contest The Gambia’s Dec. 5, 2026, presidential election.

Joseph Colley, chairman of the IEC, announced the dates Tuesday during the commission’s monthly stakeholders forum. He said nomination forms would be available to aspiring candidates beginning Sept. 21.

Colley also provided an update on the voter register, saying revising courts were continuing to hear objections arising from the registration process. He expressed hope that the courts would complete their work within the 60-day period prescribed by law, allowing the commission to finalize the voter list.

“Pursuant to the constitutionally enshrined principle of separation of powers, the courts are independent, and as such the commission shall not interfere with their deliberations,” Colley said.

The IEC has also begun a series of training programs aimed at strengthening preparations for the election, Colley said.

The first session focused on electoral integrity and the legal framework, while a second centered on election stakeholders. A third training, scheduled for Sept. 21 to 26, will focus on electoral operations and results management.

Participants include representatives of the Inter-Party Committee, civil society organizations, the media, the Gambia Police Force and the Gambia Federation of the Disabled, among others.

Colley said the commission plans to broaden participation in future training programs to ensure stakeholders have a better understanding of the key stages of the electoral process.

The goal, he said, is to help ensure that the December election — and future elections — are conducted peacefully, transparently and inclusively.