By Yaya Dampha, NPP Diaspora Coordinator
Dr. Lamin Manneh’s latest public pronouncements regarding a so-called “software” to monitor and track election results are as troubling as they are intellectually shallow. They expose not innovation, but a dangerous blend of ignorance, political opportunism, and a willingness to mislead supporters on matters of national importance.
Let us address the facts—clearly, firmly, and without apology.
The Gambia’s Electoral System Is Manual, Transparent, and Tamper-Resistant
The Gambian voting system is neither electronic nor digitized. It is a simple, physical, and highly transparent marble voting process conducted in full public view. Votes are cast manually, counted manually, and verified manually—right at the polling stations.
There is no digital backend. No electronic transmission. No software-dependent infrastructure.
Therefore, Dr. Manneh must answer a very basic question:
What exactly is this “software” intended to monitor in a system that is entirely non-digital?
Anything presented beyond internal party record-keeping is, at best, redundant—and at worst, a deliberate attempt to manufacture doubt where none exists.
Counting Is Immediate, Open, and Verified by All Stakeholders
At the close of polls, counting begins instantly in the presence of:
Party agents from all contesting parties
Domestic and international observers
Security personnel
Ordinary citizens within the community
Each result is:
Publicly announced at the polling station
Officially recorded
Counter-signed by all party agents present
This is not a hidden process. It is one of the most transparent electoral mechanisms anywhere in the world.
Parallel Tabulation Is Not a License for Public Deception
Political parties are fully entitled to collect their own results through their agents. That is standard democratic practice.
However, let it be unequivocally stated:
No political party, no official, and certainly no self-styled technocrat has the legal authority to declare election results.
That authority rests solely with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
Any attempt—direct or implied—to pre-empt, contradict, or publicly substitute the IEC’s mandate is reckless, unlawful, and a direct threat to public order.
Irresponsible Claims and Dangerous Implications
Dr. Manneh’s repeated assertions of “fraud,” unsupported by judicial validation, coupled with his party’s failure to substantiate such claims in court, raise serious concerns about credibility.
Even more alarming is the subtle conditioning of supporters to distrust official results in advance. This is not vigilance—it is calculated destabilization.
Political actors must understand that:
Democracy is governed by law, not by loud assertions
Electoral disputes are resolved in courts, not on radio talk shows
Public confidence must not be sacrificed for partisan theatrics
Security Institutions Must Remain Vigilant
Any narrative that encourages premature declaration of results or undermines legally established processes falls squarely within the domain of national security.
The security services have both the authority and the obligation to:
Prevent the spread of misinformation capable of inciting unrest
Ensure compliance with electoral laws
Safeguard peace and stability before, during, and after elections
This responsibility must be exercised firmly and without hesitation.
Conclusion: Leadership Demands Responsibility, Not Noise
The Gambian people deserve seriousness, honesty, and respect for institutions—not technological grandstanding or political narcissism disguised as innovation.
Dr. Manneh’s statements do not strengthen democracy; they weaken it. They do not inform the public; they risk inflaming it.
The path to State House is not paved through confusion, intimidation, or self-declared victories. It is earned through lawful participation, credible evidence, and respect for the sovereign will of the people as declared by the IEC.
Anything short of that is not politics—it is recklessness.
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