D1M Deposit Pending: Can Salieu Jallow Still Make It to the 2026 Ballot?

By: Ousman A. Marong

Independent presidential hopeful Salieu Jallow has officially submitted his nomination credentials to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) as he gears up for The Gambia’s presidential election in December 2026. He’s committed to tackling corruption, creating jobs, and addressing the economic struggles that everyday Gambians face.

Jallow, who proudly identifies as a young educator, shared that his decision to run for president stems from his deep love for his country and his worries about what he sees as a troubling path for national development.

After handing in his documents to the IEC on Tuesday, he spoke with journalists about his vision for the country. He emphasised his desire to steer The Gambia back on course, enhance national security, and open up opportunities for the youth.

“I am a young person, an educator, and I truly care about my country. We all know that the current direction isn’t right. We need to get the country back on track,” Jallow expressed.

He highlighted job creation, combating corruption, and ensuring national security as key pillars of his political agenda.

Additionally, Jallow mentioned that his candidacy aims to give a voice to what he calls the struggling class, particularly those who are having a tough time making ends meet.

“We stand for the struggling class, those who are finding it hard to get by. These individuals represent over 80 percent of our population,” he stated.

Incomplete Submission

However, Jallow’s submission hasn’t yet secured him a confirmed nomination, as there are still some outstanding requirements.

He clarified that his team had anticipated receiving a bank payment slip from the IEC, which would allow them to deposit the necessary funds, rather than having to bring the cash directly to the Commission. He assured that they would make arrangements to finalize the process.

Jallow mentioned that his team still needs to finalize proof of the required D1 million deposit, sign the asset declaration, and gather 10,000 supporting signatures for submission.

In addition to the pending D1 million deposit, he has yet to turn in a signed asset declaration form and the necessary 10,000 voter signatures.

He recognized that the ultimate decision on his nomination lies with the IEC, and he emphasized that his team will keep pushing to meet the outstanding requirements.

“We can only provide them with our documents for review. The decision is theirs, not ours. We can’t determine if we’ll be nominated or not; that’s up to the IEC,” he explained.

Jallow’s submission is a significant step in his quest to join the presidential race, but his candidacy still hinges on the IEC’s verification and approval of all nomination criteria.

Now, it’s a waiting game to see if he can fulfil all the IEC’s stringent requirements in time to secure his official nomination for the upcoming December elections.