Ahead of the 16 July 2026 Ol Kalou Parliamentary By-Election, I joined fellow Commissioners and members of the Electoral Security Arrangements Committee (ESAC) in providing an update on the Commission’s preparedness to deliver a free, fair, peaceful, transparent and credible election.
The briefing brought together key institutions involved in safeguarding electoral security and integrity, highlighting the importance of coordinated action and shared responsibility throughout the electoral period. The discussions reaffirmed that a credible election depends not only on effective electoral preparations, but also on a secure and peaceful environment in which citizens can exercise their democratic rights without fear or intimidation.
The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) called on leaders and citizens to reject hate speech, ethnic profiling and inflammatory rhetoric, emphasizing the importance of dialogue, peace and national unity. The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) confirmed the deployment of officers to monitor police conduct during the by-election, reinforcing accountability and encouraging members of the public to report incidents of misconduct.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) also cautioned against voter bribery and other electoral offences, reaffirming its commitment to investigating and prosecuting conduct that could undermine the integrity of the electoral process. The Inspector General of Police, meanwhile, assured the public that comprehensive security arrangements had been put in place across Ol Kalou Constituency, with adequate personnel deployed to polling stations to maintain law and order and protect voters.
The engagement demonstrated the importance of close coordination among electoral, security, oversight and accountability institutions in creating the conditions necessary for a credible election. Each institution has a distinct responsibility, but our collective objective remains the same: protecting the integrity of the electoral process and ensuring that citizens can exercise their constitutional rights peacefully.
As Ol Kalou prepared to go to the polls, I encouraged all eligible voters to participate peacefully and responsibly, reject violence and inflammatory rhetoric, and exercise their constitutional right to choose their representative in the National Assembly.
