PRESS RELEASE FROM G P D P.
ISSUED BY HENRY GOMEZ SECRETARY GENERAL AND LEADER OF THE G P D P PARTY.
“THE GAMBIA PARTY FOR DEMOCRACY AND PROGRESS (G.P.D.P) CONDEMNS IN THE STRONGEST AND UNEQUIVOCAL TERMS THE LATEST ATTEMPT BY PRESIDENT YAHYA JAMMEH TO CREATE A ONE PARTY STATE WITH THE PASSING OF THE NEW ELECTORAL LAW THAT WAS SECRETLY SIGNED INTO LAW..”
The Gambia Party for Democracy and Progress (G.P.D.P) condemns in the strongest and unequivocal terms the latest attempt by President Yahya Jammeh to create a one party state with the passing of the new electoral law that was secretly signed into law.
The new electoral law is not only a threat to democracy and good governance but an action geared towards denying we Gambians our constitutional rights to vote and be voted into office. As a Gambian citizen to begin with and a party leader who believes in accessing the seat of power through the ballot box, let me make it categorically clear that no amount of intimidation, arrest and persecution will stop Gambians from claiming for their democratic rights. As a matter of fact the new law is another vindication of our collective call for President Jammeh to leave power after 21years of misrule.
An APRC dominated National Assembly passed the Elections (Amendment )Bill 2015 on the 7th day of July with a hidden agenda. Unfortunately it has been recently “strengthened” during the Lower Saloum by Elections, where the APRC lost to NRP. While reading between the lines one will quickly realize that, the Lower Saloum elections were a façade used to cover the true intensions of the incumbent which was nothing else other than a show just to fool the Gambians again. What obtained in Lower Saloum was facilitated by those who are pretentiously using the banner of an opposition party without taking into consideration the realities on the ground. In my own opinion results stemming from the Lower Saloum elections have caused more confusion than paving a way forward. When in actual fact the real issue should have been touring and sensitizing the electorates while challenging the IEC and the incumbent to play by the rules. There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true or the other is refuse to accept what is true.
Our position on the call for electoral reforms remains the same, and our party in collaboration with the other opposition parties will continue to demand for those electoral reforms to ensure that there is no abuse from the incumbent as seen previously. The Independent Electoral commission has been turned into a propaganda powerhouse by Jammeh and his government. The current chairperson Al Mustapha Carayol is illegally occupying the office in contravention of the constitution. He has served more than two terms which is already unlawful. Constitutionally he cannot serve more than 2 terms in office. Logically an arbiter whose position is illegal cannot guarantee that he will remain impartial while performing his duty. The amendment which increased the deposit for presidential candidates from D10.000 to D500.000, National Assembly members from D5.000 to D50.000 and mayoral candidates from D2.500 to D25000 is the most undemocratic attempt yet again by the ICE and President Jammeh. Whose soul aim is to stop Gambians from exercising their God given rights. My Party will never ever be part of a scheme like that.
In light of the above my party, my staff and I would like to reiterate the fact that, The National Assembly which should have been an important institution in the dispensation of democracy and multiparty politics has once again failed the Gambians. The truth and confidence bestowed upon those elected members by their constituents should have urged or obliged them to avoid passing the new electoral law without a second thought or taking into consideration the future of our nation. This latest attempt is aimed at further muzzling the opposition parties ahead of the 2016 elections. In fact my party doesn’t believe in free and fair elections come 2016.
Gambians want change and change is obvious. The GPDP therefore calls on all opposition parties to remain united. United we stand, divided we shall fall. No election without electoral reform, now is the time or no more. Philosophically or practically speaking it is always better to bend the stick when it’s wet rather than wait until it is dry.
God bless The Gambia!!!
Signed: Henry Gomez
Secretary General and Party Leader of GPDP.