D-Day in Nianija, Voters Go to the Polls

The people of Nianija Constituency in the Central River Region will today 18thDecember 2008 elect a new representative to the National Assembly.

A supposed APRC stronghold, the race for the Nianija constituency has in recent weeks generated lot of interest in the country with politicians from both the ruling APRC and opposition camps trading words.

The election, which is said to be a close race, follows the expulsion of Mr. Dawda Manneh, the erstwhile National Assembly Member for the said constituency from the ruling APRC party on whose ticket he was elected to the National Assembly.

Mr Dawda Manneh, who is currently standing trial for trafficking of 9Kg, 260 grammes of cannabis and conspiracy, was arrested on Saturday 13thSeptember 2008 together with one Demba Baldeh, an ex-soldier. They are both accused of smuggling a large quantity of cannabis sativa, locally called "jamba".

While some media reports are predicting an early APRC victory, political analysis still believe that with both opposing sides apparently brimming with confidence to secure the Nianja National Assembly seat, any prediction as to the potential winner will have to reckon with the trend of sudden changes in political fortunes.

Latest reports have it that candidates of both the ruling APRC and opposition NRP, Mr Yaya Whan and Mrs Sally York respectively have addressed a series of meetings in the 32 villages in Nianija constituency with a view to drumming up more support.