By Omar Bah
The Independent Electoral Commission has said it has so far not received any notification from the Brikama Area Council on state of the chairmanship in the council.
The Chairman Sheriffo Sonko was expelled by his party, the United Democratic Party last week, a development which means that he loses his elective position automatically under the Local Government Act.
However according to the IEC’s electoral officer Sambujang Njie, the Election House will have to be first notified by BAC before it can announce the position’s vacancy or call a by-election.
Asked whose office should do that notification, Mr Njie said it should be the council or the appropriate authority with oversight of the council. “That’s where I can stop,” he said.
Meanwhile up until last night, the IEC has not got such notification from BAC. On Monday the chairman himself Sheriff Sonko confirmed he received his expulsion letter from the UDP but maintained that he is still the chairman. Mr Sonko also refuted UDP’s reason for expelling him, saying he has worked for the party since 1996.
In another development, the chief electoral officer also said that there have not been any changes to the postponement of the nomination processes in Niamina West National Assembly or Kerr Jarga ward by-elections.
Both elections were postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
