By Seedy Jobe
The mayor of Banjul, Rohey Malick Lowe, has warned that a significant number of otherwise eligible voters could be excluded from participating in national elections because they lack formal identification, urging electoral authorities to act swiftly to close what she described as a growing gap in the system.
In a statement posted Sunday on her official Facebook page, Ms. Lowe pointed to a longstanding practice in the capital under which the mayor’s office provided attestations for residents without formal documents, enabling them to register and vote. That arrangement, she said, was effectively ended by a July 2021 High Court ruling, leaving many residents without a viable alternative.
“The immediate consequence is that many law-abiding citizens (through no fault of their own) now face the real risk of disenfranchisement simply because they lack formal identification and no longer have access to attestation rights which are guaranteed for every citizen of The Gambia by law,” Mayor Lowe said.
She framed the issue as more than a procedural or legal matter, calling it a test of fairness and democratic inclusion. Banjul, she noted, lacks traditional administrative structures found elsewhere in the country, complicating efforts for residents to obtain alternative forms of identification.
“If no corrective measures are introduced, the upcoming electoral processes risk being fundamentally unequal for the people of Banjul,” she said.
Ms. Lowe called on the Independent Electoral Commission and the National Assembly to urgently address the situation, suggesting expanded access to national identification systems or the creation of a lawful alternative attestation mechanism tailored to the city’s circumstances.
Her appeal comes as she prepares to step down from office after announcing she will not seek re-election. Despite her impending departure, Ms. Lowe said she remained committed to advocating for the rights of Banjul residents.
“My decision not to run for election again will not negate my responsibility to the people of my city,” she said. “Even as I leave office soon, it is important that we recognize that, 5 years after the court ruling, no alternative process or measure has been put in place to correct this gross unfairness. When the courts provide legal clarity, our institutions must accommodate the societal realities in recognition of these legalities,” she concluded.
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