(JollofNews) – The Gambia’s electoral commission has struck off two dormant political parties after they failed to meet the country’s electoral rules.
The National Democratic Action Movement (NDAM) and the Gambia Democratic Party (GDP) have not met the country’s new Elections Amendment Act (2015) which among other things requires executive members of all political parties to be resident in the Gambia and for parties to set up offices in the seven administrative regions of the country, as well as submit their audited accounts to the commission.
NDAM was formed in 2001 by Lamin Waa Juwara, a veteran politician and former propaganda secretary of the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP).
Mr Juwara broke away from the United Democratic Party after a heavy defeat in the elections, accusing the party leader Ousainou Darboe of complacency.
In 2005, the party joined the five-party opposition coalition National Alliance for Democracy and Development (NADD) . However, following the split of the alliance, Mr Juwara joined the government of President Yahya Jammeh and served as minister for Local Government.
He was later sacked from the post and is currently serving a six month jail term for abuse of office.
Meanwhile, has cleared eight political parties to contest this year’s general election.
The electoral commission said the governing Alliance for Patriotic Re-Orientation and Construction (APRC) and seven opposition parties including the United Democratic Party (UDP), National Reconciliation Party (NRP), People’s Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS), National Convention Party (NCP), People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Gambia Moral Congress (GMC), and Gambia Party for Democracy and Progress (GPDP) have all met the electoral rules.
