The Secretary General and leader of the People’s Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS), Suwaibou Touray, has levelled serious accusations against the government, alleging corruption, voter inducement, and intimidation in the run-up to the upcoming elections.
Speaking during a party interview, Touray claimed that the government was entering the electoral process with corruption and inducement as its primary tools for influencing voters.
“A corrupt government like this going into the electoral system with corruption, inducement and continuously intimidating voters. If the incumbent President does illegal campaigning, who will control him?” Touray asked.
He stressed that Gambian law prohibits voter inducement, arguing that political parties should win support by presenting their programmes and agendas rather than through intimidation or material incentives. Touray alleged that some parties were distributing bags of rice and money to voters in an effort to secure their backing.
The PDOIS leader further claimed to have received reports from the Upper River Region suggesting that the National People’s Party (NPP) and the government were giving money to Alkalos across the region to sway voter support.
Touray also called for deeper electoral reforms, including the establishment of an additional body to monitor the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and the activities of political parties. “When there is electoral reform, there needs to be another layer or commission which will monitor the Electoral Commission and monitor all political parties as to what they are doing,” he said.
In addition, he criticised the allocation of more than D50 million to the President for a nationwide tour, arguing that such funds could be better used to benefit taxpayers.
Touray’s remarks underscore growing concerns among opposition parties about the fairness of the electoral process and the use of state resources in political campaigns.
