Africa-Press – Gambia. The National Assembly on Monday voted to reject a motion brought forward by Hon. Lamin Ceesay, the National Assembly Member for Kiang West, seeking to revisit an earlier decision that removed a key provision related to diaspora voting from the country’s draft elections bill.
The motion, which aimed to rescind the deletion of Clause 14—a provision that would have guaranteed voting rights to Gambians living abroad—garnered the support of only 16 lawmakers, while 21 voted against it.
In presenting the motion, Hon. Ceesay said he had written to the Speaker of the Assembly on March 25, 2025, requesting permission to move a motion in line with Order 29.3 of the Standing Orders, which allows members to seek reconsideration of decisions made by the committee of the whole house.
“Honorable Speaker, in accordance with order 29.3 of the standing orders, I write a notice to your office to grant me leave to move a motion to rescind the decision of the committee of the whole house on the recent decision to delete clause 14 from the election bill. I believe that this provision is crucial for fostering stability within our political landscape and demonstrating to our citizens that despite our political differences, we are committed to serving the public,” Ceesay told the Assembly.
He argued that the decision to eliminate diaspora voting was made by the committee of the whole and could therefore be revisited under parliamentary rules. He cited multiple constitutional provisions—particularly Sections 100(2)(b), 226(1)(a) and (b), and Section 39(1)—to support his claim that the legislature has both the power and responsibility to enact laws ensuring inclusive participation in national elections.
Ceesay also referenced a recent Supreme Court ruling affirming the voting rights of Gambians living abroad, noting the court’s interpretation of Section 127(1)(a) and (b), which gives it the authority to assess the constitutionality of legislative decisions.
“Honorable Speaker, Section 127.1A and B grants the Supreme Court the authority to address questions regarding whether a law has exceeded the powers defined by the constitution or any other laws applicable to the National Assembly, individuals, or authorities. These provisions underscore the importance of balancing powers and adhering strictly to the constitutional guidelines,” he said.
He cited a recent Supreme Court ruling affirming the right of Gambians abroad to register for public elections, while also emphasizing its broader implications.
“As stated in Section 39 of the Constitution of the Republic of the Gambia, this ruling not only safeguards the democratic rights of our citizens but also guides the Gambians but also compels us to consider how to effectively involve them in our election process,” he stated.
“Honorable Speaker, with these significant factors, it is essential for the assembly to rescind our decision and take steps to ensure compliance with the constitutional mandates that guarantee the rights of the Gambians living abroad, regardless of their allocation,” he added.
However, in his ruling on the motion, Speaker of the National Assembly Seedy S.K. Njie questioned the procedural validity of the request. He noted that the motion was brought under Order 29.3, which prohibits reconsideration of decisions already taken during the same session, except through a properly noticed motion to rescind.
“Honorable Members, having listened to his motion, he is dealing with matters taken at the consideration stage. If that is so and that is the case with these motions, probably it is not relevant under clause 29.3, and I think if it was because this was a consideration stage decision, a committed decision, not the whole Assembly. Therefore, it is my belief that motions of such nature or such intent can be taken during the consideration stage,” the Speaker said.
The debate that followed reflected sharp divisions among members, but ultimately the Assembly rejected the motion, maintaining the removal of the diaspora voting clause.
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