A seven-day political tour mounted by the female wing of the main-opposition
United Democratic Party (UDP) in the North Bank region of The Gambia has
witnessed the defection of over a hundred former ruling APRC loyalists.

Wrapped up on Sunday, the tour was led by UDP female wing secretary general,
Aja Yam Secka. Major meetings were held in over 21 villages in the districts
of Nuimi, Baddibu, Jokadu and Sabackh Sanjal.

“We want to erase the footprints of [Gambian] president Jammeh,” says a
party loyalist, referring to president Jammeh’s recently concluded ‘Meet the
People Tour’ which was typically transformed into vote a ‘canvassing tour.
Presidential election in Gambia is slated for November 24, 2011 with
Gambia’s military-turned civilian president seeking re-election for the
fourth time. With a voter population of over eight hundred thousand, The
Gambia has a total of ten registered political parties, though many are
dormant, if not dead.

So far, the candidatures of four other presidential aspirants have been
reliable confirmed, but Jammeh is widely believed to be the favorite.
However, the successes registered during UDP’s women wing political
consultations in North Bank invites a question to president Jammeh’s claimed
chances of sweeping the Nov. 24 polls.

From Essau in Nuimi where the tour began, through Jokadu, the Baddibus to
Sabah Sanjal where the tour ended, the campaigners have been accorded a
tumultuous welcome; all the meetings were well attended and responses were
positive.

At the meetings, various speakers called on Gambians to vote president
Jammeh out of office, come Nov.24. “Many people have now realised that the
Jammeh administration is not here for the interest of Gambian people, said
Mr Yaya Sowe of Daru Rilwan in Central Baddibu, making reference to
president Jammeh’s unexplained super richness whilst poverty and hunger are
rising in The Gambia.

At Mbantang Kiling, a village in Upper Nuimi, a woman among the thirty-nine
people who defected from APRC to UDP lamented that president Jammeh’s
16-year rule brought no progress for the people of their village. Poor road
network, lack of proper markets for farmers produce, skyrocketing of the
prices of basic commodities, among others, are all working against the
ruling APRC party domination in North Bank.

And the people of Toubakolong village have now modified APRC crafted biting
lyric to instead chant: “We need old Pa to salvage us,” referring to the UDP
leader Ousainou Darboe who has only Nov. 24 to unseat president Jammeh else
be constitutionally disqualified for good due to old age.


Source: Daily News, Gambia.


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