The
leader of the Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC), Mamma Kandeh, who took third
with 17% in The Gambia’s December 1, 2016 Presidential election, has said the
GDC has no plans to contest another election.
He
made the statement following the announcement by President Yahya Jammeh on
Friday on state TV rejecting the election results of the December 1
presidential polls.
According
to the press secretary of the GDC, Essa Jallow, “The Gambia Democratic Congress
has learnt with dismay the decision by President Yahya Jammeh to annul the 2016
presidential election results.
The
move contravenes the constitution of The Gambia, and the GDC had accepted the
outcome of the elections, and “that position remains unchanged,” he said.
“The
Gambian people have elected Adama Barrow in a free, fair and transparent
election, which President Jammeh himself initially accepted, and GDC has no
plans to contest it,” he added.
Mamma
Kandeh, according to his press secretary, is therefore calling on President
Jammeh to reverse his decision in the interest of peace and stability.
“Your
swift decision earlier to concede defeat and your subsequent move to call Adama
Barrow to congratulate him was lauded throughout the world,” he said.
“We
therefore prevail on you to reconsider your decision.”
The
GDC leader further appealed to all Gambians to remain calm, while the situation
is being resolved.
In
a related statement on the December 1 poll, the chairperson of the Independent
Electoral Commission (IEC) has said the final results of the December 1
election were correct and nothing would “change that”, as they could be proven
in court, if the matter gets there.
Speaking
to Reuters on Sunday, IEC chairman Alieu Momarr Njai said: “The election
results were correct, nothing will change that. If it goes to court, we can
prove every vote cast. The results are there for everyone to see.”
