Having withdrawn his candidacy in the 2007 parliamentary elections, independent candidate Modou I. Cham of Jeshwang constituency has his eyes set again on the parliamentary polls slated for 29th March.
Cham, who walked into our offices Tuesday, told this reporter in an interview that withdrawing his candidature in 2007 to give chance to his APRC opponent, Haddy Nyang Jagne, was the worst mistake he ever made.
He apologized to his supporters for what he described as a betrayal of trust and confidence the people of Jeshwang constituency had in him.
According to him, even though he contested and lost the 2009 local government election in his constituency, this year would be a golden opportunity for him to sweep the polls.
Since the Independent Electoral Commission announced the date for the polls, his supporters have called and encouraged him to contest, Cham said.
“After a series of consultative meetings among the committees, it was agreed that he (Cham) be given the chance to be an independent candidate,” Cham added, and that he has accepted, and will be taking part in the National Assembly election.
“We are financially and technically ready and fully equipped to fund and support my nomination, campaign and even the activities of the election.
“This time, all the committees and structures have done their homework, and we are ready to overcome any constraints that might come in the process,” Cham added.
Meanwhile, the nomination of candidates for the parliamentary polls, according to the IEC, will take place at the IEC regional offices across the country from Thursday 8th to Saturday 10th March 2012.
Campaigning, according to the release, will commence on Wednesday 14th March and end on Tuesday 27th March 2012.
It is worth noting that out of a total of 53 seats in the National Assembly, the ruling Alliance Patriotic Reorientation and Construction has 47 of which 5 are nominated MPs.
The opposition United Democratic Party has only four seats, while the National Alliance for Democracy and Development has one seat, and one seat is held by an independent candidate.
