*PRESS RELEASE No. 4 FROM THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL **ALLIANCE
** FOR DEMOCRACY AND DEVELOPMENT (NADD)*

13th February 2006.



The Executive Committee of the National Alliance for Democracy and
Development (NADD)  comprising the leaders who emerged from five political
parties to constitute NADD has met on Monday 12th February 2006 to review
the state of NADD and related issues that are breeding confusion among the
populace. It is important for the people to note that trust in government or
political parties is not to be based on individual likes and dislikes of
each other, on the contrary, it is determined by the degree of commitment of
stakeholders to clear fundamental objectives as well as the institutions and
institutional processes which make a government or party viable.



The Executive Committee of NADD decided to review its Memorandum of
Understanding and the Code of Conduct that its members had subscribed to. It
maintains that NADD's objectives as well as the institutions and
institutional processes that are put in place to attain them are viable and
intact. Hitherto NADD members had adhered to its Memorandum of Understanding
and Code of Conduct up to the point of establishing procedures for the
selection of a presidential candidate or flag bearer /standard bearer. Part
III of the Memorandum of Understanding paragraph (8) states categorically
that "The selection of the candidate of the Alliance for the presidential
elections shall be done by consensus, provided that in the event of an
impasse selection shall be done by holding a primary election restricted to
party delegates comprising the chairman, chairwoman and youth leader of each
party from each village/ward in the constituency."



NADD has started the process of selecting a flag bearer through consensus.
One method of reaching consensus was tried without success. The second
method is yet to be fully applied. This method called for the establishment
of a selection committee with representation from all shades of political
opinion within NADD. The selection committee was mandated to draw up
criteria for selection, take note of the names of people in the list for
selection and proceed to guage the candidature of these persons in
accordance with the set criteria. In order to promote consensus at the end
of the exercise the selection committee recommended for those whose names
were entered in the list to make a declaration that they would accept the
verdict of the committee once it is made.



The criteria for the selection of a NADD presidential candidate by consensus
are as follows:

1.     We need a candidate that can win. We need someone who has a
nationwide appeal.

2.     We need someone who 'can serve as a unifying factor for both the
executive and the people.

3.     We need a candidate that can tackle the APRC candidate very
effectively in terms of strategy, tactics and style.

4.     We need a solid rock who can withstand all weather, a bold person who
can surmount all difficulties in order to achieve victory.

5.     We need someone with experience and foresight, someone who has been
exposed to politics in the Gambia and abroad.

6.     We need a charismatic leader, someone who is very articulate and is
capable of moving people, someone with good public relations.

7.     We need someone who is reliable, with leadership qualities that
transcend all ethnic and partisan influences.

8.     We need someone with a high moral standing, someone with a clean
record.

9.     We need someone who can be trusted to be absolutely committed to the
MOU in its entirety.



The selection process is on hold because not only have we failed to get a
declaration from some quarters but have not received any new recommendation
to quash the method that has been unanimously adopted. In the same vein
proposal to go to the primaries has not been made.

Instead the Executive Committee became preoccupied with the attempt by a
member of the Executive to resign from NADD while his original party remains
a member of NADD the Alliance. The Executive Committee holds that NADD the
Alliance is a by-product of the MOU and NADD the Party is a by-product of
the Supreme Court decision; that NADD the Alliance and party became
indissoluble unless the majority of parties withdraw from NADD the Alliance.
In that case NADD the Alliance shall disappear and NADD shall be` *run* by
its registered members. However to ensure the indissolubility of NADD the
Alliance and NADD the Party the Executive Committee members had to declare
their allegiance to NADD the party to ensure equal representation of all
stakeholders. Consequently the Executive Committee has requested all members
to explain the content of the MOU and the Code of Conduct to the executives
of their original parties to prevent any distortion and misunderstanding
regarding their conduct of political activities as long as they remain
members of NADD.



Paragraph 2 of the Code of Conduct regarding the harmonization of
principles, policies and coordination of activities among member parties
states that "During the lifespan of NADD each member party shall regulate
its activities to promote the objective of NADD and shall, at all times
subordinate all its policies, programmes and activities to that of NADD."

Paragraph 3 adds that "All member parties shall always be bound by the
principle of good-faith in their dealings with each other, draw attention to
any infringement of the Code of Conduct during meetings of the Executive
Committees and maintain strict confidentiality in discussing differences to
ensure their amicable settlement." Hence the Executive Committee wishes to
convey that it is not delayed by indecision, on the contrary, it is delayed
by making attempts to get everybody on board so that NADD's objectives shall
be attained. All members were asked to be sincere to NADD by adhering to its
Memorandum of Understanding and Code of Conduct or honourably distance
oneself from NADD to allow other members to continue on the road that has
already been paved.



The Executive Committee wishes to convey to all sympathisers and well
wishers of NADD that it is not in disarray. The attempt by NADD to engage
all its members in democratic debates in a frank and open manner should not
be mistaken for indecisiveness; on the contrary, it is done to ensure that
no member can abandon NADD and claim that a dictatorship was imposed on
them. Party representatives have veto power in NADD and cannot be
marginalized. Sincerity in not wanting to be seen as the stumbling block had
enabled NADD to move forward to develop its institutions and institutional
process on the basis of the principle of unanimity. The Executive Committee
of NADD resolves that the method adopted to resolve contradictions and
problems by putting all issues on the table  and debate it out until the
superior view stands is the best way of maintaining the integrity of NADD so
that no member can ever question its openness and democratic
characteristics. The Executive Committee members wish to reassure the people
that they have not collectively departed from the Memorandum of
Understanding, the Code of Conduct and Constitution of NADD. The Executive
Committee maintains that registering NADD to be an umbrella party to contest
the forth coming presidential elections is a requirement of both the MOU and
the Constitution of the Republic. NADD is to get reassurance of loyalty from
its members in the next meeting and proceed with the process of selecting a
flag bearer.



Finally, the Executive Committee wishes to reassure the people that it will
continue to maintain its sense of bearing, face all challenges in a calm and
serene manner so as to build its pillars of integrity and earn the trust and
confidence it deserves.



Issued by Executive Committee of NADD



Accountability for the press release

Coordinator Halifa Sallah

NADD Headquarter

30 Papa Sarr Street

Serrekunda

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