Although the total number of seats for each party has not yet been released by the IEC at the time of going to press.
During the last council elections, the UDP won the most seats with 62 of the country’s 120 seats, the Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC) came second with 23 seats, and the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC) came third with 18 seats – being the first local elections since ex-President Yahya Jammeh went into exile.
According to the results, the president’s party only won three seats in both Kanifing Municipality and West Coast Region – the biggest regions in the country while the opposition UDP swept polls in these areas.
However, the president’s party is reported to have won a majority of seats in the Capital City and the rural Gambia – making the race very competitive between the ruling party and the UDP.
After casting his vote at Banjul, President Barrow told the waiting press the importance of councillors' election, saying the elected councillors will manage the grassroots. He added that the grassroots are the majority and the vulnerable.
“It’s very important for people to exercise their civic duty to vote and choose those that will run the affairs of the councils. I call on Gambians to vote for the candidate of their choice because this is a clear indication that we are nurturing and consolidating our democracy moving forward,” Barrow stated.
The president congratulated all the political parties participating in the election circle and the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) for being neutral and making sure that a conducive environment is created for the Gambians.
“Today, we can proudly say that we are one of the best democratic countries in the world. That wouldn’t have happened if my government was not tolerant. We are tolerant because we believe that only Gambians can elect and put us in positions,” the NPP leader said.
