CTV Africa

  Picture Credit: VOD Author: Pa Modou Cham In a press conference to update journalists on the campaign observations during the Mayoral and Chairpersonship elections, the Elections Watch Committee (EWC) revealed that its observers reported witnessing or hearing of incidents of campaign ethics violations. In a statement delivered at the Peace Ambassador's building, Omar Cham of the EWC stated: "EWC observers reported witnessing or hearing of incidents of campaign ethics violations including the use of state resources such as government vehicles or distribution of cash or items by government officials during the campaign, candidates providing money or gifts to supporters, or buying voters cards." According to the observation committee, the violations create an unlevel playing field during the election campaign and dilute the premise that political campaigns should be contested based on a candidate's skills, ideas, and ability to lead the wards, and not based on their a...

Picture Credit: VOD Author: Pa Modou Cham  The Elections Watch Committee (EWC), in a press conference earlier today recommended for the election stakeholders to adhere to the Independent Electoral Commission's (IEC) cooling-off period. Speaking during a press conference on the campaign update held at the Peace Ambassadors building in Kanifing, Omar Cham of EWC, stated political parties, candidates and their supporters should adhere to the IEC's mandated cooling-off period and refrain from all campaign activities today, 19th May.  Cham continued that the media and any other group should avoid publicizing unofficial results and that candidates should refrain from declaring victory until the IEC releases the final results.  "In addition to announcing the final results at the ward level, the IEC should make public a disaggregated list of polling station-level results in an analyzable format and in a timely manner. Political parties, candidates, and their suppor...