Jammeh Wants To Transform Gambia Into One Party State—OJ

Calls IEC’s Threat To Deregister The PPP A Bluff

Says The IEC Is An Extension Of  The APRC Gov’t

By Pa Nderry M’Bai, Raleigh, NC

The interim leader of the People’s Progressive Party( PPP’s) Omar Amadou Jallow has said that left with the totalitarian leader of The Gambia Yahya Jammeh alone, the impoverished West African country, would be transformed into a “one party” state—in a bid to facilitate dictator Jammeh’s growing appetite for self perpetual rule.  The outspoken politician vowed that as long as he OJ is alive, including his opposition colleagues, they will not allow The Gambia to be hijacked by Jammeh, and his cohorts—whom he accused of undermining the country’s much cherished democratic values, and natural heritage, since their emergence into the nation’s political scene. Mr. Jallow said The Gambia was founded under the core principles of pluralistic and participatory democracy. He warns that any attempt on the side of the dictatorship to block multiparty democracy, would be greeted by strong resistance from the citizenry. Mr. Jallow was reacting to reports that the Independent Electoral Commission—the country’s main electoral body’s recent declaration at an inter-party meeting that it would expunge dormant parties such as the PPP from its electoral register.

While denying knowledge about the IEC’s planned move to expunge the PPP from its records, Mr. Jallow warns that if the IEC resorts to such an  “unconstitutional” move, his party would fight back with a high profile civil suit to the highest court of the land—the supreme court of The Gambia. Jallow said the IEC does not have the moral and constitutional mandate to deregister a legitimate political party such as the PPP—which in OJ’s view is the country’s oldest political party since post independence. 

“ What I am saying is that: the PPP is a partner in alliance called NADD.  And NADD is active. The party has members of Parliament. We have councilors, and we are operating.  The UDP has members of Parliament, they have councilors, and they are operating. And the UDP is in alliance with the NRP. So which is the dormant party?” OJ rhetorically asked.

The controversial politician who earned himself with the reputation of being the most jailed politician in The Gambia, told the Freedom Newspaper that Yahya Jammeh’s primary objective is to govern the country unchallenged.

“ The process and the liking of the present administration was always to try to submerge dissenting voices—particularly opposition parties, and declare this country a one party state.  That will never happen,” OJ posited.

Describing democracy as the best system of governance in the world, the onetime former Agriculture Minister in the first Republic said  The Gambian opposition would continue to clamor, and fight for the existence of a multiparty democratic system in The Gambia. He said the opposition owe it to The Gambia, and her people by ensuring that such democratic values are never trampled upon by the Jammeh leadership, who he OJ accused of promoting dictatorial culture in this country.
A  defiance Mr. Jallow said the PPP leadership would not waste its precious time engaging the IEC over such a matter. He said the IEC can go ahead with their plan, but warned that such a move would not go unchallenged.

“I am waiting for them to act. You will hear our reaction. We don’t need to ask them, if we then ask them, as if we are worried. I am not worried because would not be able to happen. It will not happen,” OJ said.

Branding the IEC as an extension of the Jammeh Government, OJ said he does not trust that the electoral body is in the position of conducting free, fair, and transparent elections in The Gambia. Mr. Jallow said the Commission had a bad reputation of being “unreliable”, and its impartiality is questionable by all standards.

“ The IEC for me, it cannot be free, and fair because it is more like an arm of the Executive.  The all five Commissioners are appointed by the President. It is  like this Pa Nderry: If our team is Manchester, and Manchester won the FA cup last year, and they are the defending finalist this year, and they allowed Manchester to choose the referee, the linesman and the Commissioner, who do you think will win?” OJ said as he uses basic algebra equation to define  Gambia’s Independent Electoral Commission.

Jallow said the mere fact that Yahya Jammeh can appoint, and fire the IEC Commissioners there cannot be free, and fair elections.  He said Jammeh has dismissed so far four of the Commissioners at the IEC since coming to power.  Jallow said he as the interim leader of the PPP, he lacks faith and confidence in the IEC.