2012 Gambian parliamentary election

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29 March 2012

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48 of 53 seats in the National Assembly
27 seats needed for a majority

	First party	Second party

Leader	Yahya Jammeh	Hamat Bah
Party	APRC	NRP
Last election	42 seats	0 seats
Seats won	43	1
Seat change	1	1
Popular vote	80,289	14,606
Percentage	51.8%	9.45%

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v t e

Parliamentary elections were held in the Gambia on 29 March 2012. The ruling Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC) won 43 of the 48 elected seats.

Electoral system

48 of the 53 members of the unicameral National Assembly were directly elected, with an additional five members appointed by the President. Due to the over 50% illiteracy rate in the country, voters would drop glass marbles into coloured drums based on the candidate they chose. Upon the marble hitting the bottom of each drum, a bell would sound to prevent voter fraud through multiple voting.

Campaign

There were 86 candidates for 48 elected seats. 25 seats were won unopposed by the APRC.

Six opposition parties (United Democratic Party (UDP), People's Progressive Party, People's Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism, National Democratic Action Movement, Gambia Moral Congress, Gambia Party for Democracy and Progress, National Convention Party and the National Alliance for Democracy and Development) boycotted the elections, saying they were rigged in favour of the APRC, and after a request to postpone the election was rejected. The UDP's Ousainou Darboe said that the ruling party was "using government resources. They operate from the offices of the regional governors and from the offices of the various local authorities to operate." The grouping also called for ECOWAS to intervene. The grouping said that APRC had "an abuse of incumbency complete merger between party and state" allowed for the ruling party to use state resources such as the media for "political advantage."

Hamat Bah's National Reconciliation Party (NRP) decided to participate in the elections. Bah made the decision on the premise that he could win back the seat lost after the founding of the National Alliance for Democracy and Development and was subsequently barred by a court ruling.

Conduct

Electoral observers were present from the African Union, Commonwealth of Nations and the Organisation of Islamic Conference. Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), said it would not agree to monitor the election because, according to them, the election was not "free, fair and transparent." ECOWAS also criticised the AU for sending an observer mission.

Results


Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction	80,289	51.82	43	+1
	National Reconciliation Party	14,606	9.43	1	+1
	Independents	60,055	38.76	4	+3
Total		154,950	100.00	48	0

Registered voters/turnout		796,929	–
Source: Independent Electoral Commission, IFES

References

"Electoral Calendar – international elections world elections". Retrieved 12 May 2011.
^ Ceesay, Baboucarr (30 March 2012), "Gambia ruling party sweeps controversial House election", Africa Review, archived from the original on 1 December 2016
^ "Gambians vote in election boycotted by opposition | Africa | DW.DE | 29.03.2012". DW.DE. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
^ "AFP: Gambia votes in parliamentary polls". Archived from the original on 2 January 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
"Gambia To Hold Parliamentary Election on Thursday". Bernama. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
"Political Parties | Independent Electoral Commission The Gambia". Independent Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
Nick Loomis (24 November 2011). "Gambian Legislative Elections Take Place Amid Boycott, Suspicion". VOA. Retrieved 30 March 2012.

v t e Elections and referendums in The Gambia
Presidential elections	1982 1987 1992 1996 2001 2006 2011 2016 2021
Parliamentary elections	1947 1951 1954 1960 1962 1966 1972 1977 1982 1987 1992 1997 2002 2007 2012 2017 2022
Local elections	2002 2008 2013 2018 2023
Referendums	1965 1970 1996

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