APRC Urges Supreme Court To Declare December Election Null And Void
@xtraconfl
The Alliance for Patriotic Re-Orientation and Construction (APRC) had filed a petition at the Supreme Court of the Gambia, calling on the country Apex Court to declare the 1 December election null and void.
The petition was… December 19, 2016 The Alliance for Patriotic Re-Orientation and Construction (APRC) had filed a petition at the Supreme Court of the Gambia, calling on the country Apex Court to declare the 1 December election null and void.
The petition was filed by Bala Garba Jahumpa, the Secretary General of APRC against the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and the Attorney General of The Gambia at the Supreme Court. The petitioner is urging the court to declare Yahya Jammeh the duly elected president of The Gambia, instead of Adama Barrow.
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It noted that Yahya Jammeh purportedly had more votes than Adama Barrow in the 1 December 2016 election. The petition pointed out that the 1 December election was invalid as non-compliance with the elections Act, that it was not conducted fairly and in good faith, and that the non-compliance seriously affected the credibility of the results of the election and thereby rendering the result invalid.
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The petition stated that the IEC, which is the statutory body responsible for the proper conduct of elections in The Gambia failed to properly collate the results of the election. On 2 December 2016, the IEC declared the results and then on 5 December, it declared a different result having noticed some errors.
It claimed that no APRC representative was present when the said revision was made, neither was it signed by the APRC representative, Hon. Seedy S.K. Njie. It further stated that on the polling day, 1 December 2016 in the Upper Region; 25,000 APRC supporters who were on the queue to cast their vote for Yahya Jammeh were intimidated by the IEC presiding officers and were not allowed to cast their vote and were sent home by these officers.
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The petition further stated that the non-compliance also includes complaints of some irregularities in the conduct of voting in the Lower Fulladu West constituency. Meanwhile, judicial sources have confirmed that the APRC is represented by veteran lawyer Edward Gomez.
Indegenous People Of Biafra Blows Hot, Warns Buhari Not To Set Foot On The Sacred Land Of Biafra.
Gambia's Vice-President Badara Alieu Joof has passed away due to an illness in India, President Adama Barrow announced on Tuesday. President Barrow took to Twitter to express his condolences and to inform the public of the passing of the vice president. The President stated that the vice president had died "after a short illness" without providing further detail.
Badara Alieu Joof was 65 years old and had been appointed as the vice president of Gambia in 2022. Prior to his role as vice president, he had served as the Minister of Education. The vice president had left Gambia approximately three weeks ago to seek medical treatment.
President Barrow had chosen Joof as his vice president after being re-elected in December 2021 for a second term. Joof had been an important figure in Gambian politics, and had a long history of public service.
Fellow #Gambians, it is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing away of my #VicePresident, His Excellency, Badara Alieu Joof. The sad event took place in India after a short illness. May Allah grant him Jannahtul Firdawsi.
— President Barrow (@BarrowPresident) January 18, 2023
In June, Joof had expressed dissatisfaction about the conduct of public affairs in the country. He had stated that Gambians had great expectations for the country and that "business as usual" would not lead to decisive change.
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The passing of Vice-President Joof is a loss to the Gambian government and the people of Gambia. He had dedicated his life to serving his country and will be remembered for his contributions to Gambia's politics and education. The President and the government of Gambia extend their deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the vice president.
The business community, prastatals, and GSM companies here were summoned for a meeting by the Interior Minister Mai Fatty. The meeting centered around the Minister's plans to refurbish the mile two prisons. Minister Fatty told the business community that his Ministry needs funds to improve the dwelling conditions at the mile two prison. He wants the business community to donate money or any form of gesture to accomplish his set plans to revamp the mosquito infested prison, which was built during the colonial era by the British.
A Local GSM company operator told us that he received a letter from the Ministry of Interior, soliciting donations to refurbish the mile two prison. The operator felt that any help that is to be extended to the Interior Ministry, should be discretionary and not mandatory.
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Minister Mai Fatty, recently told Gambians that he wants the mile two prisons to be closed pending further renovation. He is displeased with the current state of the prison.
Minister Fatty, should be commended for initiating such a laudable initiative. The prison should be refurbished. That prison is not safe for human dwelling.
Some business owners here are not happy with the way and manner Mr. Fatty, the seemingly most powerful man in Barrow's government, is going about seeking donation from the business community without any formal publicized notice to inform the public about his set goals for the prison. One of the business owners, told us that Mai, is allegedly using his office to intimidate them like Jammeh used to do in the past by asking them to chip in to finance government projects.
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Prison refreshment is paramount, but the business community here felt that there are other pressing national issues of public concern that equally need to be taken care of. For example, the collapsed health sector, the sinking economy, lack of electricity, water supply, and high cost of living.
The business community also cited the possibility of the requested funds to be embezzled in the absence of accountability and transparency. They want government to create a committee which will oversee the fundraising. That Mai Fatty, should be excluded from the said committee.
Corruption At The Immigration Department
Interior Minister Mai Fatty, recently imposed a ban on passport and Identity Card issuance. He came up with a partial lifting of the ban until after the Hajj season.
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While the ban was on, someone tried to test the waters at the Immigration to see if the announced ban was being enforced. He applied for an ID Card. He never physically avails himself at the Immigration. He just used his contacts at the Immigration to have his application processed. He was issued with an ID without any further delay. The ID was hand delivered to him.
Corruption still exists in The Gambia. If you have money, you can get anything in that country.
Mai Fatty, could not be reached for comment.
With the advent of the new Gambia, opening up economic and business opportunities, the country will soon boast of a home-based airline which is aspiring to make Banjul a hub in the region
Africaada Airways, a subsidiary of Royal Africa Holdings, the airline will be an Africa-focused Gambian Flag Carrier, which will provide Gambia with her truly self-owned commercial maiden flight soon.
Prince Ebrahim Sanyang, the chairman of the Royal Africa Holdings told The Standard in an exclusive interview that if everything works according to plan, Africaada Airways will start operation soon. "We had missed two planned inauguration dates largely owing to delay in our application and approval process."
Asked what led to the delay, Prince Sanyang said the company suffered needless frustrations and communication bottlenecks throughout their application with the Gambia Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), basically a vicious cycle of stop and go to date.
He is however very positive on what the future holds for them. "In this New Gambia, no one can frustrate any of our investment, it's our constitutional right to legally operate and own an Airline in The Gambia, an investment that should be free from any bottleneck. That is exactly what New Gambia will do for Africaada Airways", he said.
Asked what steps they intend to take to address their teething approval delay with GCCA. He said: "In coming days, we will call for an urgent multi-stakeholders formal meeting, including GCAA, the line Ministry charged with GCAA, and all other relevant stakeholders to table the matter, discuss and agree concrete road map of compliance that will ensure check and balances for an expedited application process."
Prince Sanyang lamented on the irony of certain registered airlines in this country who haven't delivered a single operational aircraft whilst Africaada Airways has standby Aircraft in place.
"As a result Gambians have to rely on unreliable regional competitors, who are charging exorbitant air fares and often with very old and uncomfortable aircraft," he lamented.
Asked on the state of their own aircraft, Prince Sanyang said: "As it stands now, all our aircraft are fully licensed and approved by the European Air Safety Agency (EASA) couple with EU state Civil Aviation Approval to fly and serve in the European Union (EU). "With our state-of-the-art generation aircraft, we can boast of same if not better and safety and quality service as many of our potential competitors registered in the Gambia or even in the sub region," he said.
Asked on whether they appealed to the GCAA to expedite their application, Sanyang confirmed in positive but was quick to say "bringing such a huge investment as new national flag carrier is not in anyway asking for special favours or bending rules from the regulator. All what we are asking for is a regulatory authority that is cooperative, fair and supportive. After all, the GCAA is a public office that belongs to all Gambians"
Dilating further on the investment, Prince Sanyang said: "In strengthening our long term presence, we will be the first airline in Gambia to invest into a multi-million dollar added value aviation infrastructural project."
The said added value infrastructural investment is the establishment of AFRICAADA Airport Village. He delved further by saying; "This component of our investment will comprise Africaada Passenger Terminals (including our own new separate VIP, Business and first class passengers), Duty Free Shopping Malls and Ancillary Retail Mega space, Restaurants, Hotel, Entertainment, Inflight Catering facilities as well as Offices, Advanced Logistics and added value facilities."
He continued: "Therefore Africaada Airport Village will be a great value- added infrastructure investment that will strengthen our operational capacity, passenger experience and attract more traffic thereby making Banjul an airport of choice on the continent."
Prince Sanyang called on all Gambians to support Africaada Airways, and posited that it is an Airline that belongs to us all, saying Africaada as "Africa Ada" means "African Culture".
Via Standard Gambia!
Tracey Merlin
BANJUL – A man was arrested Friday at the King Fahad Mosque in Banjul after a gun was found in his bag, credible sources told The Standard.
According our sources the man was busted by metal detectors used by security from the Ecomig contingent guarding President Adama Barrow who was in the Mosque to observe prayers.
He was reported to be a non-duty soldier of Gambia Armed Forces Major Salifu Ngom, the spokesperson of the ECOMIG forces confirmed to The Torch, an internet blog on Gambia.
He said the soldier was found in possession of 9mm automatic pistol and 8 cartridges. Ngom said the soldier has been handed to the police for further investigation but gave no further details.
The Standard contacted a Gambian security chief who claimed not to have known about it but a credible source at the Mosque confirmed the incident.
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"I saw a man being carried away and it was said that a gun was found with him. But I don't know any details," our source said.
The Gambia government has not made any comment on the matter so far.
While selecting his new cabinet members who will kickstart Gambia's new government after 2 decades of Jammeh's rule, Barrow said that he will not allow any of Jammeh's ministers to remain in cabinet. He said he has enough man power to run his new government.
However, the name of the newly sworn in ministers were withheld from the public until they were sworn. The new Gambian President had said earlier that media will be free to operate in his government, that he wants to work with them because he has a lot to learn from them.
Meanwhile 10 out of 11 ministers have been sworn in and they are as follows:
Ousainou Darboe was sworn in as Foreign Minister.
The chairman of NRP party, Hamat NK Bah appointed as minister for Tourism and Culture. He Contested for presidency in 2001 and 2011 elections. He was a former hotelier and was very critical of Jammeh.
Omar A Jallow was sworn in as minister of Agriculture. He was former agriculture minister in the 1st republic and leader of PPP party. He was arrested by Jammeh multiple times.
Mai Ahmad Fatty appointed Interior minister. A lawyer and leader of GMC party who served years in exile. Alleged that Jammeh emptied state coffers.
Henry Gomez appointed Youth and Sports minister.
Lamin M Dibba appointed minister of Forestry and Climate Change minister.
Dr Isatou Touray appointed Trade minister.
Women rights activist, imprisoned once by Jammeh. Was first female presidential candidate. She later pulled out and re-joined Coalition. Amadou Sanneh appointed Finance and Economic Affairs minister.
Former UDP party treasurer, arrested by the NIA, tortured and paraded on state television. Released from prison on Monday. James FP Gomez appointed Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters minister.
Lamin N Dibba appointed Lands and Regional Government minister
#Gambia: Lamin N Dibba appointed Lands and Regional Government minister pic.twitter.com/o42C3cLdPp
— Abdoulie Sey (@jaimolel) February 1, 2017
#Gambia: James FP Gomez appointed Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters minister. pic.twitter.com/5BuB4lHth7
#Gambia: Dr Isatou Touray appointed Trade minister. pic.twitter.com/tuUtAcgiln
#Gambia: Ousainou Darboe sworn in as Foreign Minister! pic.twitter.com/9UcrDuHCOa
#Gambia: Hamat NK Bah appointed Tourism and Culture! pic.twitter.com/TKQsdC0svE
#Gambia: Omar A Jallow apointed Agriculture minister. pic.twitter.com/UUi8LLnNqa
#Gambia: Mai Ahmad Fatty appointed Interior minister! pic.twitter.com/W18QCQc4Ks
#Gambia: Henry Gomez appointed Youth and Sports minister! pic.twitter.com/bNJlaG9QZh
#Gambia: Lamin M Dibba appointed minister of Forestry and Climate Change minister. pic.twitter.com/cBEoTNc8ed
Breaking – Yahya Jammeh, Gives Condition For Handover, Asks…
ECOWAS Mediator in the political situation in The Gambia, President Muhammadu Buhari and his Co-Mediator, former President John Dramani Mahama have resolved with other regional leaders to visit and hold another round of talks with President Yahya Jammeh.
The decision was announced by Nigeria's Foreign Minister at the end of a day's meeting in Abuja, Nigeria on Monday.
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Other leaders present for the meeting were Liberia's Ellen Sirleaf Johnson who is the Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government and President Macky Sall of Senegal. Also present were the President of the ECOWAS Commission and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General.
Ramzia Flees Banjul Amid Threats On Her Life
Former Ruling APRC nominated Member of Parliament, and Team Isatou Touray surrogate and trusted political confidant Ramzia Diab, is running for her life, amid reports that she was on the verge of being arrested by dictator Jammeh's assassin team, the Freedom Newspaper can report. Ms. Diab, a former Gambia Airways Hostess Manager, arrived in Dakar, the Senegalese capital last night. She was reported to have told her host and colleagues in the opposition that her life was under increasing threat, and as such she decided to flee the politically polarized and unstable West African nation.
Ms. Diab, used to be an ardent supporter of dictator Yahya Jammeh and his ruling APRC. She led a Lebanese delegation during Gambia's transition to Civilian rule to rally her support for the junta, which propelled Jammeh to a Civilian ruler. She was later nominated to become a member of the National Assembly by Yahya Jammeh.
Ramzia's political woes with Yahya Jammeh started as soon as she got fired from the National Assembly. She was one of the few loyalists in the government, who stood by the late Baba Kajali Jobe, former APRC House Majority leader, who was jailed on tax evasion and economic crime charges by the dictatorship. She got yanked from the House, as soon as Baba Jobe parted company with Jammeh.
Come the March, 2006, coup led by the former CDS Ndure Cham, Ramzia Diab, got arrested. She was implicated in the said coup, even though no substantive charges were filed against her. She was not only tortured, but sexually abused while under the custody of the NIA.
After months of detention without trial, Ramzia, and her co detainees including Lawyer Mariam Denton, were released from custody. They were asked to be checking in with the Kairaba police for some time before they were finally asked to stop reporting to the station.
Inside Team Isatou Touray's campaign and the newly formed opposition alliance, there is shock about Ramzia's sudden departure from the country. Her story is being treated on the downlow for now. A source familiar with Ramzia's case told us that Fatoumatta Tambajang of the alliance is likely going to issue a statement to the press in coming hours.
In another development, Jammeh's lead assassin operative Sanna Manjang and his wife and three children arrived in Senegal last night. Sanna's family are being hosted at a safe house, according to reliable sources in Dakar, while Sanna's whereabouts is unknown.
According to sources, Sanna Manjang, has decided to evcauate his wife and children barely one week before the Presidential elections. Manjang drops his wife and kids at a safe house in Dakar, and left, sources said. It is not clear if Sanna is still in Dakar, but sources said his family is currently using Senegal as a safeheaven.
Mr. Sanna Manjang, has been complict in so many disapperances, kidnapping, toruture and assassination of Gambians. Mr. Manjang is dictator Jammeh's lead assassin in town.
In the meantime, tensions are moutning in Banjul ahead of the December, 1st, Presidential elections. Dictator Jammeh is seeking for fifth term mandate. He kept telling his supporters during the campaign trail that no election, coup, or foreign power can depose him from power.
Written By Pa Nderry M'Bai
E-mail: panderrymbai@gmail.com
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