The Kanifing Revising Court dismissed a formal objection on 19 October 2026 regarding the inclusion of Muhammed Sissoho on the voters’ register for Bakau. Presiding officials ruled against the challenge, which sought to remove his name from the electoral roll in The Gambia. The legal proceedings concluded after the court evaluated the claims presented against the registration of Muhammed Sissoho. With this decision, his status as a registered voter in the Bakau constituency remains unchanged. No further legal action was recorded following the court’s dismissal of the case.
Allegations Against Voter Registration
Fatou Darboe initiated the challenge by alleging that Muhammed Sissoho was a Malian national. She further claimed that he would not reach the age of 18 by the time the 2026 elections occurred in The Gambia. These assertions formed the basis of the objection brought before the Kanifing Revising Court.
Legal documentation regarding the case includes an affidavit of service filed by the parties involved. Official records indicate that this document was dated 16 September 2026. The court processed this evidence as part of the formal review process concerning the electoral eligibility of Muhammed Sissoho in the Bakau constituency. Following the examination of these materials, the presiding officials reached their final determination on the matter.
Testimony on Birth Records
Lamin B. Fatty, the Director of Births and Deaths, provided testimony regarding the documentation submitted for the case. He informed the court that he could not verify the birth certificate of Muhammed Sissoho. According to his statement, the document in question was an older certificate issued prior to the implementation of the current digitalised registration system used by his office.
Magistrate Isatou Jallow delivered the final ruling on the matter, which relied upon specific legal provisions. The court based its decision on Section 28(2)(b) and Section 28(6) of the Elections Act, 2025. These sections outline the requirements and procedures for maintaining the accuracy of the electoral roll in The Gambia.
During the proceedings, Magistrate Isatou Jallow addressed the threshold required for challenging an individual’s eligibility to vote. She stated, "The Court cannot expunge a person’s name from the voters’ register merely because one person suspects that the person is a foreign national." Her ruling clarified that unsubstantiated suspicion regarding a voter's nationality is insufficient grounds to mandate the removal of a name from the official records. By applying these standards, the court maintained the registration of Muhammed Sissoho within the Bakau constituency.
