President Jammeh nominated for Dec 1 poll

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) yesterday endorsed the candidature of the incumbent, President Yahya Jammeh of the ruling APRC party, for the December 1 presidential poll.

The chairman of the IEC, Alieu Momar Njai, told President Jammeh that he is qualified to run for the presidency, because he had produced all the documents the IEC needed and had met all the requirements.

“I am commending the government for funding the entire electoral process.  Our election in The Gambia is the most reliable in the world.  Nobody can rig the election.”

President Jammeh, in his remarks, said: “I urge the chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), Alieu Momar Njai, to invite all those who doubt the credibility of the electoral process to come and observe the whole election procedure.”

President Jammeh also enjoined the IEC chairman to get on with the job, do what is right and fear nobody.

 He announced that “this is the second election that nobody financed, except the government.”

He said Africans should learn lessons, as the donors when they expect their “stooges” to win the election, will then fund elections. 

According to President Jammeh, this is the second election the government has been sponsoring. 

“I am going to win.  I will not bow down to anyone, but only to Allah,” he declared. 

“I am going to win; is that not democracy, because it is the choice of the people. They know I am going to win, so they will not sponsor the election.”

President Jammeh, speaking to the press corps later, also spoke of major development plans in the pipeline in the next five years, which include free university education and medical care for Gambians.

The president also reaffirmed his government continued commitment to the development of women and youths.

Talking about vested interests in the election, President Jammeh said:  “They have already known who is going to win,” he said, adding that this is the second election that nobody is financing, except the government entirely and 100 per cent.