Gambian presidential candidate Joof submits just 448 signatures
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Kerr Fatou
Joseph Henry Joof, former attorney general and justice minister, has submitted an independent candidacy for the Gambian presidency with only 448 signatures out of the required 5,000. The electoral commission also requested several documents and corrections before considering his candidacy, according to Kerr Fatou.
Former Gambian attorney general and justice minister Joseph Henry Joof submitted incomplete nomination papers to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) on Saturday for the presidential election on 5 December. IEC chairman Joseph Colley asked him to correct his nomination declaration and noted several missing documents, according to Kerr Fatou.
Joof submitted 56 pages containing eight signatures each, or 448 endorsements, while the law requires at least 5,000 signatures for a presidential candidacy. His file also did not include the nomination fee, a sworn declaration of his assets and income, or a tax clearance certificate. The proposed photograph and electoral symbol must also be discussed, while the campaign colour and travel schedule remain to be provided, according to Kerr Fatou.
After submitting his papers, Joof asked the IEC to strictly apply Article 62 of the Gambian Constitution on candidates’ qualifications. He notably argued that presidential candidates must have completed senior secondary education and obtained at least two A-level qualifications, according to Kerr Fatou.
Joof’s candidacy comes after the publication on 2 November of the number of 27 presidential aspirants in Gambia and after Isatou Touray submitted her candidacy on 4 November. The 27 Gambian presidential aspirants had then been recorded by the Independent Electoral Commission, while Isatou Touray to challenge Barrow had announced her participation two days later.
