By Mariama Marong
The Kanifing Revising Court has dismissed an objection to Isatou Bah’s voter registration, ruling that the evidence presented was insufficient to prove that she was not a Gambian citizen.
The ruling, delivered by Magistrate Mam Samba Jallow at the Brusubi Revising Court, means Bah’s name will remain on the voters’ register for the Serrekunda West Constituency.
The objection was filed by Bubacarr Jaiteh, who challenged Bah’s eligibility to be registered as a voter.
During the proceedings, Jaiteh and another witness raised questions about Bah’s citizenship, the authenticity of the birth certificate she allegedly presented during registration, and her presence in the community.
But the court found that the allegations were not supported by sufficient evidence to establish that the birth certificate was forged or that Bah was not a Gambian citizen.
Magistrate Jallow said allegations and suspicions about a person’s nationality were not enough to justify removing their name from the voters’ register.
She stressed that anyone seeking to challenge a voter’s registration must provide credible evidence to support the objection.
The court referred to Section 13 of the Election Act 2025, which sets out the legal requirements for voter registration, including Gambian citizenship, the required age and the relevant constituency connection.
Magistrate Jallow also explained that the burden of proof rested on the person making the allegation. In civil proceedings before a Revising Court, the standard of proof is the balance of probabilities.
The court acknowledged that concerns about voter registration could be raised and examined. However, it made clear that such concerns must be supported by evidence when brought before the court for a decision.
A person’s name, the court held, cannot be removed from the voters’ register simply because another person suspects that they are a foreign national.
Having considered the evidence, the court dismissed Jaiteh’s objection and ordered that Bah’s name be retained on the voters’ register for the Serrekunda West Constituency.
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