A
delegation of the African Bar Association yesterday paid a courtesy call on
President-elect Adama Barrow, a day after meeting with the outgoing President
Yahya Jammeh.
Speaking
to journalists shortly after the meeting, the president of the association,
Hannibal Uwaifo, said the outgoing president never said he was not stepping
down.
“He
never told the African Bar Association that he was not stepping down,” he said.
According
to the president of the Nigeria-based association, outgoing president Jammeh
said that he is going to pursue his petition in court, “which is lawful and is
the right thing to do”.
“The
petition [challenging the result of the 1st December presidential election] is
great, legal and constitutional; there is nothing wrong with that,” he said.
Mr
Uwaifo said the African Bar Association is also pursuing a solution, adding
that diplomacy that can solve the issue.
He
pointed out that as an association, they have no recommendation for presidents
Jammeh and Barrow as of now, because they are still doing their consultations.
As
part of their consultation, he said they have met with the Attorney General to
make clarification about the appointment of judges at the Supreme Court, but
the Attorney General gave them a document that says the judges have been
appointed since June but they have not assumed office yet.
President
of the African Bar Association said they are yet to meet with the Gambia Bar
Association; they hope to meet with them before going back.
