This is according to Gambia’s
freedomnewspaper.com a Gambia online news
medium. Gambia’s longtime dictator Yahya
Jammeh, has defied West African regional
leaders, following calls for his stepping down
from the Presidency, the Freedom Newspaper
can reveal.
The dictator told a delegation of African leaders
assigned to mediate and convince Jammeh to
allow a peaceful transition of power to President
elect Barrow, that he is determined to challenge
the results of the December, 1st election in
court. Hence, Jammeh said he is not going to
entertain any talks for his withdrawal from the
Presidency. The Banjul talks was a complete
failure. No deal, or breakthrough was reached
by the visiting African leaders.
While African Heads of State were in Banjul to
meet Jammeh and President elect Adama
Barrow, the dictator, has already taken over the
offices of the Independent electoral Commission
—the IEC election house. IEC workers, including
its Chairman Alieu Mamar Njai, were denied
access to the Commission on Tuesday. Armed
guards have taken over the building. No one is
allowed to have access to the building, said a
source.

This followed an election petition filed by Yahya
Jammeh, in court challenging the outcome of
the elections. Jammeh wants the court to
declare President elect Adama Barrow’s
electoral victory “null and void. He also wants
the court to order for fresh elections.
“I understand that the judges for the Supreme
Court to hear the petition case filed by the
government and APRC against the IEC
presidential results have already been
nominated. A legal source in the country says
the Supreme Court, has the power to annul the
results outright, although I don’t know the time
frame for their deliberations,” said a source who
reached us late Tuesday.
The Gambia Bar Association, under the
leadership of Gambian Barrister Sheriff
Tambadou, has argued that the Supreme Court
has not been sitting over a year now. This is
largely attributed to lack of judges to fill the
vacant court. Hence, Tambadou, opined that Mr.
Jammeh’s desperate attempts to subvert the
electoral victory of President elect Barrow
amounts to treason.
The Bar also argues that Jammeh has no
constitutional right to appoint judges to hear
any election petition—given the illegitimacy of
his Presidency at this hour. However, the Bar’s
legal objection doesn’t stop Jammeh from
nominating judges to hear his frivolous election
petition.

African leaders are expected to meet on
December, 17th to decide if military option
could be employed to force Jammeh to
relinquish power. The delegation left Banjul on
Tuesday with utter shock, disbelief, and
disappointment.
Meanwhile, Transition spokesman Halifa Sallah,
told reporters in Banjul that the transition is on
course and they are waiting on Jammeh’s five
year term to expire sometime in January. He
said President elect Barrow would be sworn in
once Jammeh’s term expires. He also spoke
about a meeting they had with the visiting
Heads of State. Mr. Sallah said they were
encouraged by the delegation to proceed with
their efforts to constitute an incoming
government.

Mr. Sallah added that the Banjul talks would be
followed by another meeting to be held by
African leaders on December, 17th. He said the
outcome of the upcoming meeting will
determine what cause of action to be taken to
remedy the situation.
Mr. Sallah also briefly commented on
Jammeh’s move to challenge the outcome of
the elections in
court. He maintains that he and his team are
working vigorously to ensure a safe transition of
power, despite the regime’s contention of
President elect Barrow’s legitimate electoral
victory.