(JollofNews) – President Yahya Jammeh of the Gambia will Tuesday meet face to face with opposition candidates vying to flush him out of power in next month’s presidential elections.
The meeting which is facilitated by the country’s electoral commission, will bring together leaders of all registered parties and stakeholders at the luxurious Kairaba Beach Hotel.
During the meeting, political leaders are expected to sign a pledge to conduct a violent free campaign and to respect the constitution and other laws of the country.
The electoral commission is also expected to use the meeting to reassure the political leaders that the election will be free and fair.
The Gambia will hold presidential election on 1st December, with legislative and local polls to follow in April 2017 and April 2018.
The small West African nation of less than two million people has been ruled by President Yahya Jammeh since 1994, when the then 29-year-old seized power in a bloodless coup.
Mr Jammeh who is eyeing a fifth term was re-elected in 2011 with 72 per cent of the votes. He is facing an opposition coalition which has expressed optimism of winning the elections.
886, 578 Gambians have been registered to vote in the election as opposed to 796, 929 in the last election.
I doubt Jammeh will show up. He is too arrogant. If he shows up and starts threatening or insulting, they should just get up and walkout on him.