By Olimatou Coker
The chairman of the National Council for Civic Education (NCCE), Momodou Sise addressed the 1,694 objections reportedly received by the IEC for determination by the revising court, stressing that such objections should not be interpreted as criminal indictments.
Ceesay made the comments during a press briefing at the NCCE offices in Kotu.
“Individuals who have been objected to are not criminals; rather, an objection simply questions eligibility and will be lawfully determined by the courts,” he explained.
The NCCE boss called on citizens and political stakeholders to remain calm, exercise restraint and allow due process to take its course.
Despite what he described as “positive developments” in the electoral process, the NCCE chairman expressed concern over the growing use of inflammatory language, hate speech, ethnic rhetoric, insults and identity-based polarisation in public discourse.
He said the situation was particularly worrying because some of the rhetoric involves political figures, persons in positions of authority and religious leaders who, he noted, should instead be promoting unity and tolerance.
Mr Sise challenged political parties and their leaders to publicly condemn and distance themselves from divisive and inflammatory conduct carried out in their name or defence.
“We must never allow a few extremist elements to tear this country apart,” he warned.
He said such rhetoric could deepen divisions, erode public trust and undermine the peace and social cohesion that The Gambia has worked hard to maintain.
With the election approaching, Chairman Sise urged political actors to focus their campaigns on policies, programmes and national development rather than personal attacks and character assassination.
He appealed to social media users and influencers to verify information before sharing it and to avoid amplifying content that promotes hatred, ethnic division or political hostility.
He encouraged Gambians to place national unity above political affiliations.
“Elections will come and go. Governments will rise and fall. But The Gambia, our peaceful, beautiful, resilient Gambia must remain,” he said.
He urged citizens to ensure that the 2026/2027 electoral cycle is remembered as a period when Gambians chose peace, truth and dialogue over division and conflict.
“The pen is in our hands, the microphone is at our lips, and the choice is ours. Let us choose unity. Let us choose The Gambia,” he exhorted.