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. ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.html To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?S1=gambia-l To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤