04/10/2026
PRESS STATEMENT
UDP CALLS ON THE IEC TO DISCLOSE VITAL VOTER REGISTRATION DATA, WARNS AGAINST COMPROMISING THE INTEGRITY OF THE 2026 ELECTORAL PROCESS
For Immediate Release | October 4th, 2026
To: The Gambian Public, the International Community, Development Partners, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Civil Society Organizations, the Inter-Party Committee, Media Houses, and the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
The United Democratic Party (UDP) wishes to bring to the attention of the Gambian public, the international community, development partners, members of the diplomatic corps, civil society organizations, the Inter-Party Committee, the media, and all relevant stakeholders the persistent failure of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to respond to the Party's repeated formal requests for critical information and data relating to the 2026 Supplementary Voter Registration Exercise.
As a political party committed to the rule of law, constitutional governance, democratic accountability, and the conduct of free, fair, transparent, and credible elections, the UDP has, on multiple occasions, formally written to the IEC requesting essential voter registration information. These requests were made through established institutional channels and in accordance with the due process expected of a responsible political party operating within a democratic framework.
Regrettably, despite our repeated correspondence and efforts to engage the Commission constructively, the UDP has yet to receive a formal response to its requests. We have exercised patience, demonstrated restraint, and exhausted the available avenues of engagement with the Commission, yet our legitimate requests for information remain unanswered.
This persistent lack of response raises serious concerns about transparency, institutional accountability, and the level of openness being afforded to political stakeholders in the administration of our electoral process. The IEC, as the constitutionally mandated institution responsible for conducting and supervising elections and maintaining a credible voters' register, has a fundamental responsibility to ensure that all stakeholders have confidence in the integrity, impartiality, and transparency of its work.
1. OUR REQUESTS ARE LEGITIMATE, LAWFUL, AND NECESSARY
The UDP's request for voter registration information is neither politically motivated obstruction nor an attempt to interfere with the Commission's mandate. It is a legitimate exercise of our responsibility as a registered political party and a key stakeholder in the democratic process.
The IEC's published 2026–2027 Electoral Calendar identifies relevant provisions of the Elections Act governing supplementary voter registration, the publication of provisional voters' lists, objections, appeals, and Revising Courts. These provisions underscore the importance of an orderly, verifiable, and accountable voter registration process.
The information requested by the UDP is essential to reconciling voter registration figures, independently examining the treatment of duplicate registrations, and establishing confidence in the accuracy and integrity of the voters' register. Our request expressly recognizes applicable legal requirements relating to the protection of personal information and any lawful restrictions on disclosure.
We therefore find it deeply concerning that repeated formal requests for such essential electoral information have not received a response.
2. THE SPECIFIC INFORMATION REQUESTED FROM THE IEC
The UDP has formally requested the following information, as detailed in its correspondence to the Commission, which the IEC can make available without waiting for the conclusion of the ongoing Revising Courts proceedings, subject to applicable legal requirements.
A. Registration Statistics
The UDP requests the IEC to provide:
1. The total number of voters registered upon completion of the 2026 Supplementary Voter Registration Exercise, before the removal, deletion, or exclusion of duplicate or otherwise invalid records.
2. The total number of records identified as duplicate registrations, together with the number of records actually removed or deleted following the duplicate-verification process.
3. The final total number of registered voters remaining on the register after the duplicate-verification and deletion process.
4. A reconciliation of these figures, clearly showing the initial registration total, the number of records removed or deleted, and the resulting final register total.
5. Where available, a breakdown of these figures by administrative area, constituency, registration centre, gender, and age category.
B. Voter Registration Datasets
The UDP has also requested:
1. The complete voter registration dataset generated upon completion of the 2026 Supplementary Voter Registration Exercise, before the removal, deletion, or exclusion of duplicate or otherwise invalid records.
2. The complete voter registration dataset constituting the register after the duplicate-verification and deletion process.
3. A reconciliation or audit summary showing the number of records initially identified as potential duplicates, the number confirmed as duplicates, the number removed, and the resulting final register total.
4. The criteria, methodology, and verification procedures applied by the Commission in identifying, confirming, and removing duplicate registrations, including the use of biometric, demographic, or other matching criteria, where applicable.
5. To the extent legally permissible, the provision of the requested datasets in a machine-readable format that allows independent verification, reconciliation, and statistical analysis.
C. Supporting Information
The UDP has further requested:
1. The date on which the duplicate-identification and deletion exercise was completed.
2. The number of records removed for reasons other than duplication, if any, together with the applicable basis or classification.
3. Details of any records restored, reinstated, or retained following objections, appeals, verification, or other review processes, where applicable.
4. A copy of any official reconciliation, verification, or finalisation report used by the commission to establish the final number of registered voters.
The UDP acknowledges that certain information, particularly the final reconciliation and verification documentation, may be directly affected by the ongoing Revising Courts proceedings. Accordingly, following the conclusion of these proceedings, the Party will make further formal requests for the relevant outstanding supporting documentation, including the identified under Section C, item 3 and 4 of its original requests.
However, the ongoing Revising Courts proceedings should not be used as a blanket justification for withholding the other requested information that is already available and can lawfully be disclosed. The IEC should act without further delay to provide the outstanding registration statistics, datasets, methodologies, and supporting information that are presently available.
3. SERIOUS QUESTIONS OVER THE RECONCILIATION OF VOTER REGISTRATION FIGURES
The supplementary voter roll summary accompanying the UDP's request presents a significant discrepancy that warrants clarification by the IEC.
According to the figures cited in the document, the IEC announced a total of 212,095 registered voters, while the dataset provided to the UDP contains 183,163 voters, representing a difference of 28,932 voters, or approximately 13.6% of the announced total.
Voter registration figures requiring reconciliation
IEC-announced total, 212,095
Dataset provided to UDP, 183,163
Difference requiring clarification, 28,932 voters
Approximately 13.6% below the IEC-announced figure.
The UDP is not presenting this discrepancy as proof of electoral malpractice or irregularities. However, a difference of this magnitude demands a clear, documented, and verifiable explanation from the institution entrusted with safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process.
The IEC must clarify whether the discrepancy arises from the datasets' respective stages of processing, the removal of duplicate or invalid records, differences in the scope of the data provided, or other reasons. Such clarification is essential to ensuring that political parties and the electorate are working with accurate and consistent information.
Electoral credibility cannot rest solely on figures announced by an electoral management body. It must also be supported by transparent procedures, accessible documentation, and verifiable records that inspire public confidence.
4. THE IEC MUST BE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE ELECTORATE
The UDP wishes to remind the IEC that its independence does not exempt it from transparency, accountability, or its obligation to maintain public confidence in the electoral process.
The Commission is not an institution operating in isolation from the people it serves. Its constitutional mandate carries with it a responsibility to act impartially, communicate transparently, and ensure that political parties and other legitimate stakeholders can engage meaningfully in the electoral process.
The persistent failure to acknowledge or respond to formal correspondence from a political party seeking essential electoral information is a matter of serious institutional concern. Silence in the face of legitimate requests does not resolve questions; it creates room for uncertainty, speculation, and declining public confidence.
At a time when The Gambia is preparing for a consequential national election, the IEC must recognize that transparency is not a favour to be granted to political parties. It is a fundamental component of credible democratic elections.
We therefore call on the Commission to demonstrate institutional leadership by responding to our correspondence, providing the requested information that is presently available, and establishing a transparent process for addressing any outstanding requests.
We further urge the IEC to engage constructively with all political parties, the Inter-Party Committee, civil society organizations, and other relevant stakeholders to resolve electoral concerns through dialogue, consultation, and lawful procedures.
5. A WARNING TO ALL STAKEHOLDERS: THE INTEGRITY OF THE ELECTORAL PROCESS MUST NOT BE COMPROMISED
The UDP considers it necessary to formally place the Gambian public, the international community, development partners, members of the diplomatic corps, civil society organizations, the Inter-Party Committee, the media, and the IEC on notice regarding the potential consequences of continued institutional silence and the failure to address legitimate electoral concerns.
Should any circumstances arise during this election cycle that compromise the peaceful conduct, transparency, credibility, fairness, or integrity of the electoral process, the IEC must be prepared to answer for its actions, omissions, and the extent to which it discharged its constitutional and statutory responsibilities.
This is not a declaration of hostility towards the Commission, nor is it an attempt to prejudge the outcome of the electoral process. It is a solemn reminder that the administration of elections carries significant responsibilities and that institutions entrusted with safeguarding democracy must be held accountable for the discharge of their mandates.
The UDP has consistently demonstrated its commitment to the rule of law and peaceful democratic engagement. We have chosen institutional dialogue, formal correspondence, and established legal procedures as our means of addressing concerns. We will continue to pursue these avenues in good faith.
However, our commitment to peace and the rule of law must not be misconstrued as an unwillingness to defend the democratic rights of the Gambian people.
We will not remain silent, passive, or indifferent in the face of any action or omission that threatens the integrity, transparency, fairness, or credibility of our electoral process.
The UDP reserves its full right to pursue every lawful and constitutionally guaranteed avenue available to protect the democratic rights of its members, supporters, and the Gambian electorate. We will continue to exercise those rights through peaceful, lawful, and legitimate means, without compromising our principles or abandoning our responsibility to the people.
We expect the IEC to appreciate the seriousness of this matter and act with the urgency and institutional responsibility it deserves.
6. OUR CALL TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND DEMOCRATIC STAKEHOLDERS
The UDP calls on the international community, development partners, members of the diplomatic corps, civil society organizations, the Inter-Party Committee, and the independent media to take note of the concerns raised in this statement.
We encourage all relevant stakeholders to remain actively engaged in promoting transparency, accountability, inclusiveness, and confidence in the electoral process.
International partners and development institutions have an important role to play in supporting democratic institutions and electoral integrity. We urge them to encourage constructive engagement between the IEC and political stakeholders and to support an electoral environment in which legitimate concerns are addressed promptly, objectively, and transparently.
We also call on civil society organizations and the media to continue exercising their important oversight roles by independently scrutinizing the electoral process, facilitating informed public discourse, and ensuring that the electorate has access to accurate and verifiable information.
Our appeal is not for any stakeholder to take sides in a political contest. It is a call for a collective commitment to the principles of democratic accountability, institutional transparency, and the protection of the people's right to participate in free, fair, peaceful, and credible elections.
7. OUR POSITION AND THE WAY FORWARD
The UDP remains committed to a peaceful, transparent, credible, and democratic electoral process in The Gambia. We believe that the credibility of an election is built long before election day through transparency, institutional impartiality, accountability, and the confidence of all stakeholders.
We have made repeated efforts to engage the IEC through formal correspondence and established channels. We have exercised restraint and pursued due process. We now expect the Commission to reciprocate that commitment by responding to our legitimate requests and making the available information accessible without further unnecessary delay.
We therefore call on the IEC to:
• Immediately acknowledge and respond to the UDP's outstanding formal correspondence concerning voter registration information and data.
• Provide the requested registration statistics and voter registration datasets under Sections A and B, together with the presently available supporting information under Section C, items 1–2, subject to applicable laws and legitimate data-protection requirements.
• Explain and reconcile the discrepancy between the IEC-announced total of 212,095 registered voters and the dataset of 183,163 voters provided to the UDP.
• Disclose the methodology and verification procedures used to identify and remove duplicate or otherwise invalid registrations, to the extent legally permissible.
• Engage meaningfully with political parties and relevant stakeholders to address outstanding concerns and strengthen public confidence in the electoral process.
• Provide the outstanding final reconciliation and verification documentation following the conclusion of the relevant Revising Courts proceedings, as appropriate.
The UDP is prepared to continue engaging the IEC constructively and to pursue all available legal and institutional remedies should these concerns remain unresolved.
Democracy is not safeguarded by silence, nor is electoral credibility established by declarations alone. It is secured through transparency, accountability, fairness, and respect for the will of the people.
The Gambian people deserve an electoral process in which every eligible voter is accounted for, every legitimate concern is treated seriously, and every institution entrusted with protecting democracy fulfils its responsibilities without fear or favour.
The UDP will continue to stand firmly for these principles and to defend the democratic rights of the Gambian people through peaceful, lawful, and constitutional means.
The integrity of our electoral process is a collective responsibility, but the IEC bears a distinct constitutional obligation to safeguard it. The Commission must rise to that responsibility.
Issued by, UDP Media & Communications Team
