By Arret Jatta
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has outlined a range of requirements that presidential aspirants must meet to contest elections in The Gambia.
According to IEC Chief Executive Officer Sambujang Njie, a candidate must be a Gambian citizen and must have attained the minimum age of 30 years.
The candidate must also have completed senior secondary education and secured nomination from not less than 5,000 registered voters, and at least 200 of the voters nominating the candidate must be drawn from each administrative area.
Njie said aspirants are also required to submit a declaration of assets and a tax clearance certificate as part of the nomination process.
Candidates must further pay a deposit of D1 million and submit their representative symbol, campaign colour and a digital photograph.
He explained that a person qualified to be registered as a voter under the Constitution and the Electoral Act could contest an election as an independent candidate.
The requirements also apply to political parties and their candidates, who are expected to comply with the Code of Election Campaign Ethics prepared by the commission.
The code is intended to guide candidates and political parties in their conduct during the election campaign.
Njie also said candidates are required to submit a manifesto that encourages tolerance and multiculturalism.
The manifesto requirement comes as political parties and aspiring candidates prepare for the 2026 presidential election.
The requirements outlined by Njie mean presidential aspirants must meet both legal and administrative conditions before they can formally enter the race.