By Omar Bah
The pending White Paper on the Local Government Commission of Inquiry is now a critical test of credibility for President Adama Barrow and his Cabinet, the National Front for Alliance and Advancement (NAFAA) leader told The Standard yesterday.
In an exclusive interview with The Standard, NAFAA’s Interim President Ousainou Allen, said accountability must be pursued through due process and not used as a political tool to decide who can contest the December 5 presidential election.
He said persistent rumours about plans to ban or disqualify certain opposition candidates cannot be dismissed as mere speculation.
“While these claims remain unsubstantiated, they raise legitimate questions that deserve clarity from the government. After all, even the greatest fire begins with a single spark,” Allen said.
He recalled that under former president Yahya Jammeh, state power was used to target opponents, in Senegal, Macky Sall’s administration was accused of using legal processes to exclude opposition figures while in Guinea-Bissau, the 2025 presidential election saw a major opposition candidate disqualified under Umaro Sissoco Embaló.
“Although the circumstances differ, these cases illustrate the importance of protecting the independence of state institutions and ensuring fair electoral competition,” he said.
Allen added that the central concern now is whether findings of the Local Government Commission could be weaponised to determine which opposition candidates are allowed on the December ballot.
The statement stressed a crucial legal distinction that the Barrow government must respect.
“The findings of a commission of inquiry, criminal liability and electoral disqualification are distinct legal matters,” Allen said.
He argued that any action arising from the White Paper must be guided by evidence, consistency, due process and the rule of law.
“Accountability must never become a political instrument for choosing one’s preferred opponent.”
The responsibility of an incumbent, it added, is not to select who should contest against it, but to guarantee that every eligible candidate has an equal opportunity to participate.
“The forthcoming White Paper must strengthen public confidence in justice, not create doubts about the fairness of the electoral process,” Allen warned.
He concluded: “Ultimately, the choice of political leadership belongs to the Gambian people, not to those already holding power.”