NPP deputy spokesman Seedy Njie and UDP Brikama Area Council Chairman Yankuba Darboe were spotted at the Tanji Police Station after the allegations emerged of NPP registering foreigners to vote in future elections
Tensions have escalated at a supplementary voter registration center in Tanji following serious allegations by the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) that agents linked to the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) were engaged in fraudulent activities to register non-Gambians.
Meanwhile, the National People’s Party (NPP) has denied the allegations, describing them as false and misleading propaganda. The party acknowledged reports of irregularities at the Tanji center but stated it is monitoring the situation while allowing police to conduct investigations. No NPP agents have been arrested, according to the NPP.
Baboucarr Sidiqi Jammeh, a UDP official, claimed on April 17 that his team apprehended individuals allegedly connected to the NPP who were issuing national birth certificates to foreigners at the Tanji voter registration center. He stated that the suspects were taken to the Brusubi Police Station and placed in custody. Jammeh described the incident as “more than electoral fraud,” branding it a “criminal act involving the fraudulent acquisition of national documents.”
The claims come amid the ongoing nationwide supplementary voter registration exercise, which began on April 8 and runs until May 21. The process, managed by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), allows eligible Gambians—particularly those who have turned 18 since the last registration—to be added to the voters’ roll ahead of future elections.
In a press statement issued the same day in Bundung, the NPP categorically denied the allegations. Deputy Spokesperson Seedy SK Njie described the claims as “false and misleading,” insisting that the NPP has never engaged in or condoned the registration of non-Gambians.
“These baseless allegations are nothing more than deliberate propaganda aimed at misleading the public and undermining confidence in the ongoing voter registration process,” the statement read.
It urged supporters and agents to remain calm, vigilant, and law-abiding, and called on the public to adhere to all legal procedures and official guidelines.
The ruling party further advised that any disputes arising from the registration should be properly documented and addressed through legal channels once the voter register is officially gazetted, including via the revising courts. It reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, legality, and safeguarding the integrity of The Gambia’s democratic process.
As of April 18, police have not issued an official statement confirming the arrests or detailing the nature of any charges. The incident has sparked heated discussions on social media and among political observers, raising concerns about the credibility of the supplementary registration exercise.
One Political analyst told The Alkamba Times that such allegations, if proven, could erode public trust in the electoral process. However, without independent verification or official confirmation from the IEC or police, the claims remain contested between the two parties.
Supplementary voter registration is seen as critical to ensuring broad participation in upcoming polls.
Both the UDP and NPP have previously expressed support for a smooth and transparent process, though rivalry has occasionally led to accusations of irregularities in past exercises.
