The Gambia Journal (Banjul)
NEWS
January 26, 2007
Posted to the web January 26, 2007
Banjul

The ruling APRC party has swept the polls in Thursday's legislative 
elections, according to the final results announced by the Chairman of the 
Independent Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Muhamed Caroyol. Ninety-nine 
candidates contested a total of forty-three seats in the elections to the 
National Assembly, the country's highest law-making body. Of the forty-three 
seats contested the APRC took thirty-seven, the main opposition UDP party 
won four, NADD won one, the Foni Bintang Karanlai constituency was won by an 
independent candidate. Five of the seats, four in the Fonis and the Upper 
River Region constituency of Kantora had been unopposed. Though polling was 
carried out peacefully on Election Day, there were many reports of 
intimidation, unlawful arrests and detention of opposition supporters in the 
run-up to the elections.

Voter turn-out was very low heating a record of about 38%, compared to more 
than 70% in 1997, 56% in 2002. Three prominent opposition figures failed to 
be reelected in yesterday's elections. They are NADD leader Halifa Sallah, 
UDP veteran politician Kemeseng Jammeh and the erudite politician Hamat Bah. 
The results re-confirm President Jammeh's landslide victory in the 
presidential elections four months ago and are likely to strengthen the call 
for a new brand of opposition politicians. They had been doing very well 
about a year ago, and won several seats in by-elections held in 2004 and 
2005 until when power struggle threw them into a dramatic split in February 
2006.

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