Almameh Gibba stood up for his vote against allowing Gambians living abroad to cast ballots. The National Assembly decided Tuesday to block a section of the Election Bill that would have let people from The Gambia vote from other countries. This sparked anger toward lawmakers who rejected it. Many folks living overseas attacked the decision on social media.
The Assembly voted down Clause 14, which suggested ways to register Gambians abroad for elections. Twenty-five members, mostly from the ruling National People's Party and its friends, voted no. Fourteen opposition members supported the idea. People who wanted diaspora voting pointed out that the Constitution gives all citizens over 18 the right to vote no matter where they live.
Critics, including the Attorney General, said current laws create problems because voters must register within a National Assembly district. The diaspora does not count as one under existing rules. Gibba pushed back against the backlash he received. He explained that practical issues and legal hurdles make diaspora voting hard without changing the Constitution first.
He stressed these problems need careful planning rather than public attacks. Gibba asked the Speaker to respond to negative comments made by other lawmakers about the decision. He said the voting section affecting Gambians abroad sparked intense debates about whether it follows the 1997 Constitution rules. This remains the main sticking point.
Gibba believes Gambians living abroad matter just as much as those at home. However, he explained current laws limit their voting rights due to specific sections of the Constitution. He suggested changing Sections 39 and 88 would fix this problem and allow diaspora voting. Gibba defended his position by saying his vote against the Election Bill came from legal concerns, not from any bad intentions or feelings of superiority.
The Assembly voted down Clause 14, which suggested ways to register Gambians abroad for elections. Twenty-five members, mostly from the ruling National People's Party and its friends, voted no. Fourteen opposition members supported the idea. People who wanted diaspora voting pointed out that the Constitution gives all citizens over 18 the right to vote no matter where they live.
Critics, including the Attorney General, said current laws create problems because voters must register within a National Assembly district. The diaspora does not count as one under existing rules. Gibba pushed back against the backlash he received. He explained that practical issues and legal hurdles make diaspora voting hard without changing the Constitution first.
He stressed these problems need careful planning rather than public attacks. Gibba asked the Speaker to respond to negative comments made by other lawmakers about the decision. He said the voting section affecting Gambians abroad sparked intense debates about whether it follows the 1997 Constitution rules. This remains the main sticking point.
Gibba believes Gambians living abroad matter just as much as those at home. However, he explained current laws limit their voting rights due to specific sections of the Constitution. He suggested changing Sections 39 and 88 would fix this problem and allow diaspora voting. Gibba defended his position by saying his vote against the Election Bill came from legal concerns, not from any bad intentions or feelings of superiority.
