Gambian Party Seals Parliament Hold
By Demba Jawo
Associated Press Writer
Friday, January 18, 2002; 7:57 AM
BANJUL, Gambia –– President Yahya Jammeh's ruling party sealed its hold on
power in this tiny West African nation, capturing nearly all parliamentary
seats in elections boycotted by much of the opposition, the electoral
commission said Friday.
Jammeh's ruling Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction party
ran uncontested in 33 constituencies and won 12 other seats in Thursday's
race, compared to three for the opposition, said Gabriel Roberts, chairman
of the independent electoral commission.
The five remaining seats in the 53-member legislature are appointed by
Jammeh.
The main opposition United Democratic Party of Ousainou Darboe, who launched
a failed bid to oust Jammeh in October presidential elections, boycotted the
ballot. Darboe claimed the government and the electoral commission were
preparing to rig the vote, charges both deny. Two smaller opposition parties
joined the boycott.
"It's a shame that there would be only three opposition members in the
national assembly for the next five years, which gives the government the
power to do anything it wants without any effective opposition," said Musa
Jatta, who supports a small opposition party.
The opposition holds 12 elected seats in the outgoing 49-member legislature,
to the ruling party's 33, and four other seats were appointed by the
president.
Four new seats – three elected and one appointed – were added to the
parliament voted in Thursday to reflect a population increase. Its first
session is scheduled for Jan. 25.
Roberts said voter turnout was higher than expected, averaging 70 percent.
Most Gambians expected Jammeh's party to win most of the seats, and many had
expressed indifference before the vote.
Jammeh, 36, first seized power in a 1994 military coup in which he overthrew
Dawda Jawara, accusing him of corruption. Jammeh retired from the military
to qualify for elections in 1996, held under pressure from international
donors pressing for a return to civilian rule.
He won that race, but only after barring Jawara – the only other president
the country has known since it gained independence from Britain in 1965 –
from running.
Gambia, a nation of 1.3 million people on the Atlantic coast, has about
500,000 registered voters.
© 2002 The Associated Press
By Demba Jawo
Associated Press Writer
Friday, January 18, 2002; 7:57 AM
BANJUL, Gambia –– President Yahya Jammeh's ruling party sealed its hold on
power in this tiny West African nation, capturing nearly all parliamentary
seats in elections boycotted by much of the opposition, the electoral
commission said Friday.
Jammeh's ruling Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction party
ran uncontested in 33 constituencies and won 12 other seats in Thursday's
race, compared to three for the opposition, said Gabriel Roberts, chairman
of the independent electoral commission.
The five remaining seats in the 53-member legislature are appointed by
Jammeh.
The main opposition United Democratic Party of Ousainou Darboe, who launched
a failed bid to oust Jammeh in October presidential elections, boycotted the
ballot. Darboe claimed the government and the electoral commission were
preparing to rig the vote, charges both deny. Two smaller opposition parties
joined the boycott.
"It's a shame that there would be only three opposition members in the
national assembly for the next five years, which gives the government the
power to do anything it wants without any effective opposition," said Musa
Jatta, who supports a small opposition party.
The opposition holds 12 elected seats in the outgoing 49-member legislature,
to the ruling party's 33, and four other seats were appointed by the
president.
Four new seats – three elected and one appointed – were added to the
parliament voted in Thursday to reflect a population increase. Its first
session is scheduled for Jan. 25.
Roberts said voter turnout was higher than expected, averaging 70 percent.
Most Gambians expected Jammeh's party to win most of the seats, and many had
expressed indifference before the vote.
Jammeh, 36, first seized power in a 1994 military coup in which he overthrew
Dawda Jawara, accusing him of corruption. Jammeh retired from the military
to qualify for elections in 1996, held under pressure from international
donors pressing for a return to civilian rule.
He won that race, but only after barring Jawara – the only other president
the country has known since it gained independence from Britain in 1965 –
from running.
Gambia, a nation of 1.3 million people on the Atlantic coast, has about
500,000 registered voters.
© 2002 The Associated Press
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