“Membership in our Party is membership to transformative change and etching your name in the annals of the Political Legacies of The Gambia”

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

There shall be three (4) categories of Membership:

• Founding Member
• Member
• Honorary Member
• Party Sympathizer / Supporter

A Founding Member is one who is considered to be among the Founders of the Party.  They are those who were instrumental in the formation of the Party and met at least three of the below five (5) criteria:

• Mobilized at least 500 sponsors towards the registration of the Pary with the IEC
• Has contributed at least Gmd100,000 (one hundred thousand dalasi) to the Party
• Contributed significantly in establishing the paraphernalia of the Party – objects, articles, and symbols
• Contributed significantly in establishing the National & Regional Structures and Organs of the Party
• Provided pertinent advisory services and guidance in establishing & domiciling the Party.

A Member is one who identifies with the Political Ideology and Philosophy of the Party and undertakes an active role in the affairs of the Party.  As such, a Member is a supporter of the Party and is so duly recognized and accredited as such with all the benefits and responsibilities that come with being a Member of the Party.  The criteria for membership are:

• Attainment of the Age of Suffrage (18 years) and being a Gambian
• Is Not a member of any other Political Party
• Is Not a member of or associated with a group or activities that are deemed to be injurious to the interests of the Party or inconsistent with the Objects, Policies, Principles, and Discipline of the Party
• Holder of a valid Voter’s Card
• Ability to meet the annual Membership dues
• Being of sane mind with at least 3 people to vouch your integrity

Members who are under 18 years of age shall fall within the Youth Member category and shall become full-fledged Members upon attaining the age of suffrage and the other criteria for membership.

An Honorary Member is one who identifies with the Political Ideology and Philosophy of the Party but may not necessarily be active in Party matters.  An Honorary Member shall make contributions, in an appreciative way, to the strategic direction, growth, development,  and funding of the Party.  The criteria for consideration of an Honorary Member are:

• Makes significant contribution to the Strategic direction of the Party
• Makes significant contribution to the growth, development, and expansion of the Party
• Makes significant contribution to the Funding of the Party

All the categories of Membership shall be open to all Gambians living within and outside of The Gambia and all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities under the respective membership categories shall apply.

A Party Sympathizer or Supporter is one who identifies with the Political Ideology and Philosophy of the Party and is below or over the age of Suffrage (16 and 25) but does not hold a Valid Voter’s Card and intends to becoming a Member in the future

RIGHTS and RESPONSIBILITIES of ALL MEMBERSHIP TYPES

RIGHTS:

The below Rights (privileges) shall hold true for all Party Members except Honorary, Youth Member, and Party Sympathizer or Supporter:

• Voting Rights in all matters of the Party
• Participation and formulation of Party Policies
• Make Proposals on matters of national interest to the Party for Policy considerations
• Run for an Office in the list of Political Offices within the Party
• Unfettered access to any Party Policy and Documentation, including but NOT limited to the Party’s Constitution, Members’ Guide, Election and Nomination Rules, and Party Manifesto, amongst others

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The below Responsibilities shall apply to all Party Members:

• Provide Leadership, Strategic guidance, and enhance the Moral Standing of the Party
• Safeguard the Interest and Reputational Integrity of the Party
• Understand, Live, and Model the Objects, Policies, and institutional frameworks of the Party as enshrined in the various Party Literature
• Popularize and make known the Objects, Policies, and Programmes of the Party with the objective of growing membership and promoting the Party
• Model Discipline, Code of Conduct, and Lead by example, the Core Values, of the Party
• Be current in all paid-up Membership obligations
• Be supportive in all noble aspirations of the Party
• Be instrumental in promoting the Party nationally, sub-regionally, regionally, and internationally
• Be active and participate fully in the Mentoring, Coaching, and Development of future Party Leaders, especially at the Youth Wing, Youth Group, and Party Sympathizers & Supporter Structures of the Party
• Ensure and promote all Party Members to live and model the Party Core Values and Code of Conduct

Some Members may not be bound by the outlined Responsibilities of the Party but shall be expected to be aware and respect the Rights and Responsibilities that guide the Members of the Party.  For the Youth Members and Party Sympathizers or Supporters expecting to become bona fide Members of the Party upon attaining the Age of Suffrage, living by the Codes of Conduct and the Core Values of the Party shall be instrumental in ascending to Party Membership.  

PROCEDURES for ADMISSION, SUSPENSION, and EXPULSION and TERMINATION

ADMISSION

1. Membership in the Party, except Founding and Honorary Members, shall be open to any Gambian living within the Gambia or in the Diaspora.
2. Membership in the Party shall be by application, either online (through the Party website) or by completion of a paper application and submitted through any of the Party branches within the seven Administrative Areas.
3. Any Gambian citizen, as prescribed by Law, in possession of a valid National Identification Card or Passport, a current Voter’s Card, or a Valid Birth Certificate or Alkalo Testimonial of Citizenship, irrespective of race, gender, regional origination, and religion shall be qualified to become a Member of the Party.
4. Any Gambian Citizen willing to live and abide by and accepts the Objects, Policies, Programmes, Principles, and Discipline of the Party and equally ready to abide by the Party’s Constitution, shall be qualified to become a Member of the Party.
5. Membership into the Party shall be by the outlined Eligibility Criteria established under Membership within the respective Categories of Membership.
6. Membership into the Party shall be sanctioned by the Organs and Structures so established for the purposes of membership.
7. The designation as a ‘Member’ into the Party shall be at a Membership Fee that shall be periodically reviewed and established by the Party.
8. The designation as a ‘Member’ into the Party shall be evidenced through a Membership Card with a unique Party Member Number, duly signed and authorized by the relevant Party Membership organ.

SUSPENSION

• Any Member who violates the Policies, Principles, Core Values, and Code of Conduct of the Party for more than three times shall be suspended from the Party. Any violation by a Member shall be subject to a Disciplinary Committee Hearing and documentation of such.
• Any Member found to be in gross violation of the Constitution of The Gambia or charged with Economic Crime, Treasonous Acts, and serious Corruption Charges shall be suspended from the Party until such charges are dropped or the Member vindicated against such charges. The Party, shall however, render its support to the Member during such period, especially where the charges brought against the Member is found to unsubstantiated or the evidence levied is deemed to be weak by the Party
• Any Member who brings disrepute or undermines the reputation of the Party through any activity, inactivity, or pronouncements as ascertained by the Disciplinary Committee, shall be suspended from the Party
• Any Member who fails to fulfill their Membership Obligations, including meeting their annual Membership dues for 2 consecutive years, shall be suspended from the Party until the obligations violated are redressed
• Any Member who is proven to have engaged in a major altercation with any other Party within the Territory of The Gambia causing the Party to be in disrepute shall be suspended from the Party

EXPULSION and TERMINATION

• Any Member suspended from the Party twice shall be expelled from the Party upon a third suspension ruling by the Disciplinary Committee
• No Member within the Party is allowed to be a member in another Political Party and any such suspicion shall be investigated and if proven shall result in the termination and expulsion from the Party
• A Member having no desire of belonging to the Party, for any reason so deemed, may write to that effect to the Party and as such shall terminate their Membership in the Party
• In the unfortunate demise of a Member, such unfortunate circumstance shall result in the natural termination of Membership
• A Member shall be terminated from the Party in the eventuality of any prescribed law, ruling, or event warranting that the Member cease to be a Bonafide Member of a Political Party

All recommendations for expulsion or Termination from the Party shall emanate from the Disciplinary Committee and  shall be endorsed, sanctioned, and implemented by the National Executive Council but only after an Exit Interview is held by the National Governing Council with the Member to be expelled or terminated.

In the event of Expulsion or Termination of a Member from the Party, the Member shall return all Party property under their custody and if holder of a Party Officer position, the Party shall make public the expulsion or Termination.