By Lamin Cham
Following a rigorous exercise, the Independent Electoral Commission yesterday issued its final list of candidates nominated for next month’s National Assembly elections. A record 252 candidates have been nominated to contest the 9th April polls which will usher in the sixth legislature of the Republic of The Gambia.
According the IEC list, some 167 candidates are sponsored by parties while 85 are independent candidates.
Also, according to the IEC list there are at least 19 female candidates. This is the biggest number of women aspirants in The Gambia’s election history and includes renowned professionals and village activists. The IEC said it is currently working on tabulating and streamlining the campaign schedules for each candidate and with some constituencies having over half-a-dozen candidates, this exercise is bound to be a charged affair.
The full list of the candidates is printed on the opposite page.
