Independent Presidential Aspirant Joseph Joof Submits Incomplete Nomination Papers to IEC

By Makutu Manneh

Joseph Henry Joof, a former Attorney General and Minister of Justice seeking to contest The Gambia’s December 5 presidential election as an independent candidate, submitted incomplete nomination documents to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) on Saturday, falling significantly short of the required number of supporting signatures.

Mr. Joof arrived alone in a taxi at the IEC headquarters to present his nomination papers, but election officials identified several outstanding requirements that must be addressed before his candidacy can be considered for approval.

IEC Chairman Joseph Colley informed the aspirant that his declaration form required corrections and that the number of signatures submitted in support of his nomination was substantially below the legal threshold.

Presidential aspirants are required to submit at least 5,000 supporting signatures. However, Mr. Joof presented 56 pages containing eight signatures each, bringing his total to 448, or fewer than one-tenth of the required number.

The commission also identified several other outstanding documents and requirements, including his nomination deposit, sworn declaration of assets and income tax clearance.

Officials said his proposed photograph and electoral symbol required further discussion, while his choice of campaign color and an outline of his campaign itinerary remained outstanding.

Mr. Joof, who served as The Gambia’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice from 2001 to 2003, used the occasion to raise questions about the constitutional qualifications of presidential candidates.

Speaking to journalists after submitting his documents, he argued that the outcome of the presidential election should be determined not merely by the size of political rallies or the number of votes candidates attract, but also by strict adherence to Section 62 of the Constitution, which outlines the qualifications for the presidency.

According to Mr. Joof, the constitutional requirement concerning educational attainment must be rigorously enforced by the IEC.

“If anybody is not a product of completing senior secondary school education, he should not contest. It is not high school. The section says you have to complete senior secondary school education. And you don’t complete senior secondary school education in Form 5; you have to go to Form 6, you have to do advanced level, then you sit the exam. You must have at least two A-levels,” he said.

Mr. Joof maintained that previous presidential elections had failed to give sufficient attention to the educational qualification provision, which he described as being just as important as the constitutional requirement for Gambian citizenship.

He urged the electoral commission to scrutinize candidates’ educational credentials and ensure full compliance with Section 62 before approving nominations.

The former justice minister argued that the country needed a president who met the constitutional requirements and possessed the seriousness and commitment necessary to advance national development.

Asked why he was seeking the presidency and what distinguished him from other aspirants, Mr. Joof described himself as a patriotic Gambian with a record of public service.

He pointed to his tenure as Attorney General and Minister of Justice, claiming credit for significant legal reforms, including legislation on dual citizenship and the establishment of the Supreme Court.

Mr. Joof said his contributions to the country’s legal and institutional development demonstrated his commitment to The Gambia and his suitability for the presidency.

Despite his confidence in his qualifications, his nomination remains incomplete, with several statutory requirements still outstanding.

The IEC has not indicated in the information provided whether Mr. Joof will be able to remedy the deficiencies within the applicable nomination period.