Ebrima Dibba, a senior figure within the Unite Movement for Change (UMC), has called on the Independent Electoral Commission to make a decision on the movement’s long-pending application to be registered as a political party.
Speaking on the matter, Dibba said the UMC had complied with the registration requirements and submitted the necessary documents to the electoral body, but was still awaiting a final response.
“The IEC is the referee in the political arena, so it must ensure equality and a level playing field for all citizens to participate,” Dibba stated.
He stressed that the commission has a responsibility to guarantee fairness and equal political participation for all groups seeking to operate within the democratic process in The Gambia.
Mr Dibba further argued that addressing the application in a timely manner would strengthen democracy and encourage broader political inclusion in the country.
He also called on young people to remain focused on their political goals and not allow themselves to be discouraged or influenced by interests seeking to limit their participation.
The UMC first submitted its registration application to the IEC in December 2025. Earlier this year, the commission reportedly returned the application and requested further clarification on some aspects of the submission.
Officials of the movement later confirmed that the requested clarifications were addressed and the documents resubmitted to the IEC
