Hamat Bah resigns from NRP

The Independent Electoral Commission yesterday announced the resignation of Hamat Bah, leader of the National Reconciliation Party, from his party.

A statement from the commission said Bah in accordance with Section 104 subsection 2 of the Elections Act resigned with immediate effect.

When contacted, Hamat Bah confirmed his resignation to this paper, noting that he did so to enable him stand as an independent candidate for the 24th November presidential election.

It would be recalled that Hamat Bah was last week elected as the candidate to lead the opposition United Front comprising four opposition parties.

This came after the Peoples Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS), the Gambia Party for Democracy and Progress (GPDP), the National Reconciliation Party (NRP) and the National Alliance for Democracy and Development (NADD) signed an MOU establishing a United Front.

Bah, 51, will be seeking the presidency for the third time, with the election due in two weeks.

A former parliamentarian, Hamat Bah lost to incumbent President Yahya Jammeh on two occasions, in 1996 and in the 2001 elections.