(JollofNews)- I once again want us all to take a hard look at the Gambia’s presidential election controversy challenged by the APRC government because of the obvious incompetence of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) or its culpability in conducting a fraudulent election management.
I have looked at it from all angles and still cant’s wrap my mind around why those opposed to President Jammeh and his government, especially the bias ECOWAS mediating group, don’t want to give the APRC government the benefit of the doubt. That’s why I decided to again walk every interested, one step at a time, through what exactly went wrong in the Gambia’s-December 1, 2016 presidential election.
Indeed, President Jammeh concede defeat on the results that were automatically gathered that evening from the polling centers where every contender had a representative. Votes were cast and counted on the spot at every station and were verified by election officials before the figures were forwarded to the stakeholder’s and IEC’s compiling centers.
So, when the last figures arrived at the APRC data-collection center around 3:00 am, December 2nd 2016, President Jammeh speaking before all his cabinet ministers together with some of the foreign ambassadors present, including me, strongly made it clear to all of us that the APRC had lost the election to the opposition Coalition Party candidate Mr. Adama Barrow and that he was going to concede defeat and certainly hand over the government in January. We were all saddened and shocked by the unexpected defeat.
However, the figures directly collected from the polling stations showed that Mr. Barrow defeated President Jammeh with a difference in votes of 18,978, the exact numbers the president quoted in his concession speech before calling and congratulating Mr. Barrow for his unquestionable victory. As far as the president was concerned, given the digital system of tallying the records, there was no room for any error that could have changed those first numbers.
And again, this was a system that allowed no room for errors, let alone, any attempt to alter the figures with fictitious numbers that they ended up using, anyway. Nevertheless, by the time they were through with joggling the numbers to suit the ones mentioned by the president in his concession speech, they had still missed the exact figure with a difference between the winner and the loser changed to 19,221 showing another error of 243 votes.
That is why when on December 5, 2016, the IEC chairman instead of going back to the Television to transparently explain the discrepancies, decided to invite the stakeholders’ representatives to their office and wanted them to endorse the corrected errors but still insisted that Mr. Barrow won, the APRC representatives refused to accept till further verified.
How the published results changed from Mr. Barrow originally having 263,515 votes to 227,708 votes and President Jammeh from 212,099 votes to 208,730 votes shows an arithmetical puzzle way beyond Albert Einstein’s analytical mind. Only Mr. Alieu Momarr Njie, the IEC chairman could explain and understand it. Numbers from nowhere got added and subtracted in the system that totally compromised the credibility of the entire elections.
Even if we want to give the IEC the benefit of the doubt on their claim that they mistakenly transposed the total votes cast in the Basse Administrative Area to the votes received by all the individual contenders, one finds it practically impossible to square how after subtracting that constant the result showing Mr. Barrow’s numbers decreasing by 35,807 votes, President Jammeh’s by 3,612 and Mr. Kandeh’s by 13,201.
That’s a total negation of the logic of constants in mathematical equations? One will expect that with the explanation offered by the IEC that “certain figures were inadvertently transposed in the Basse Administrative Area alone…”
“…….an error repeated across for the other contesting candidates”, the 35, 807 votes dropped in Mr. Barrow’s total figures would have been the same for both President Jammeh’s and Mr. Kandeh’s final numbers. Shouldn’t it be that?
A rig-proof election system cannot be credited as being one when the results are fraught with such stupid mistakes.
However, with the Senegalese government leading the campaign against the APRC government in this crisis, they have been doing everything at their means for the international community not to know the facts while spreading the false allegation that President Jammeh lost the election, conceded defeat and from nothing explainable just changed his mind to stay in power.
They don’t care if it takes using military force to invade the Gambia and force him out without regards to his popular support base and the potential unintended consequences at stake.
In 1981 Senegal invaded the Gambia for their selfish political ambitions but were later forced to leave the country they unpopularly occupied for eight years. All that they could now be remembered for in that failed adventure are the mass graves left behind, packed with thousands of innocent Gambian women, men and children slaughtered in the battle to take over Banjul for the PPP government.
Without doubt, another military incursion in the country supposedly led by Senegal again may result in more mass graves of slaughtered innocent Gambians, probably in tens of thousands this time; but at the end of the day, the ambition of Senegal to permanently taking over the Gambia will never happen.
We have begun a new year 2017. Gambians at home have celebrated it with joy and happiness but are also cognizant of this special time when the peace, security and prosperity they have been enjoying for so long is under threat by an international campaign to disrupt it in what definitively amounts to interfering in the internal affairs of a small and helpless nation.
Their obsession for regime change in the Gambia even if it means starting an unjustified war in a very peaceful Sub-region, leaves many questioning whether arms-manufacturing countries are not involved in fermenting another new major crisis for more profitable weapons sale.
Many new weapons were tested in Syria, Yemen, Libya and other war zones that they helped in creating and maintaining; adding the Senegambia region for more profit only hurts the inhabitants but helps surge profits in Wall-Street arms-trafficking stocks.
May the Almighty Allah bless us all in this new year of the Lord 2017 and protect our president His Excellency President Jammeh.
Long live the Islamic Republic of the Gambia!
Long live the Gambia people!
Long live His Excellency Sheikh Professor Doctor, Alhagie, Yahya A. J. J. Jammeh, Babillimansa, Commander-in-Chief of the Gambia Armed and Security forces.
The author is a former Lieutenant Colonel and commander of the Gambia National Army. He is also the Gambia’s deputy ambassador to the United Nations
Listen you IDIOT!!! No one is interested in your garbage!!! Can’t you get it into your bonehead that NO ONE IS INTERESTED!!!
But then again may be this chap is NOT an IDIOT and he has a plan in this RANTING! He is probably writing all these CRAP in the hope that Jammeh will take him into exile wherever he is going to end up – and Sam Sarr can become Jammeh’s personal security guard in South Africa or Abu Dhabi. Or maybe Sam is hoping that Jammeh will send him some cash to survive in New York after Jammeh is gone and Sam has lost his job!. OK, maybe Sam is not such an idiot afterall and we will have to accept that we will see one of two more of this garbage printed before Jammeh goes.
Sam,
On election night, all parties were able to keep track of the counts of votes due to on-spot-counting. So Barrow is saying that all parties already knew the number of votes they received even before IEC announced the results. Is this true? If so, what was APRC’s own tally on election night?
Yes votes are on spot count, in this way all witnesses and representative have to verify it, so it will be difficult to rigged or to make any frauds, after both representative satify, they will sign their a copy of declaration. If sam is saying something is not right may be the wrong came from APRC, they know what their intention was fail and truth prevailed.
Why do you people give this asshole Sam liar Sarr to lie to Gambians. Where was this stupid guy when jammeh was killing and torturing Gambians. Shut your big mouth, why didn’t you stop Jammeh and his gangs of criminals when they overthrow a democratic elected government. Am sick of this so called diplomat. He only cares about himself, this is about Gambia and Gambia is bigger than all of us. Just shut up and go do something better or maybe start applying for MacDonald. You are very stupid, I like this man before but I never knew he was this ignorant. Shut your big mouth
It looks like there are 50/50 so better dialogue no insults or Threats can fix anything and those who talks about inhuman wars as we all can see the west in Arab countries @ Irak Libya and Syria so please stop talking about the war as no winners. Again how democrats can insult someone just because he’s not your friend or team mate? It’s easy we can go to polls for 5 times or why not?? Democracy is democracy you can’t force or insult people because they against you,,again there any good politician in earth??all the same just the job and public money For your family and friends
Soninke, no one is talking about war, do you remember when jammeh order armys with machine guns in the street of banjul, what that telling you? A common sense tells that he can shoot out any one who disagree with him at the time, and also going back to the poll is a waste of the,prople in gambia are struggling for their end meet and more waste will be brewing, simply jammeh conceded and turn around saying no i will not step down, this is nonesense.
1) HE SHIPS HIS IMMEDIATE FAMILY ABROAD TO SAFETY
2) HE GETS HIS SUPPORTERS TO STAND HIS GROUND FOR HIM AND GO ABOUT HARRASING PEOPLE
3) HE ENSURES THAT HE TAKES AS MUCH OF THE COUNTRIES WEALTH AS HE CAN PACK INTO CONTAINERS
4) HE TAKES ONE OF THE PLANES OWNED BY THE COUNTRY FLYING TO A LUXURY LIFESTYLE WITH HIS IMMEDIATE FAMILY LEAVING HIS SUPPORTERS AND “MEMBERS OF HIS EXTENDED FAMILY”
HIS “PEOPLE” FIGHT KILL AND DIE FOR HIM
SAD THING IS HE DOES NOT EVEN KNOW THE EXISTED AND HAS DONE NOTHING FOR THEM OR THE FAMILY THEY NOW LEAVE BEHIND
THOSE THAT SURVIVE TAKEN TO COURT AND JAILED FOR A LONG TIME OR EXECUTED
RUINING THEIIR FAMALIES LIVES
NO THEY WILL NOT BE SO STUPID
You are right scopion, keep the fire up.
Soninke The Gambia elections are purely first past the post so if Barrow won but even just 1 vote he becomes the winner and so is president.
Barrow won by more than 18,000 so there is no doubt at all and he is the president.
I HAVE TRANSLATED THIS SO IF YOU AND SAM CANNOT UNDERSTAND THE QUEENS ENGLISH
FRENCH les élections Gambie sont purement premier passé le poste si Barrow a gagné, mais même seulement 1 vote, il devient le gagnant et donc est président.
Barrow a gagné par plus de 18.000 donc il n’y a aucun doute du tout et il est le président.
Chines
岡比亞的選舉純粹是首先通過這個職位，所以如果巴羅贏了，甚至只有1票，他成為贏家，所以是總統。
巴羅贏了超過18000，所以毫無疑問，他是總統
Arabic
هي الأولى بحتة الماضي آخر حتى إذا فاز بارو ولكن حتى 1 صوت مجرد أنه يصبح الفائز وذلك هو الرئيس.
فاز بارو بأكثر من 18،000 لذلك ليس هناك شك على الإطلاق، وأنه الرئيس
Sonike did not get it sound like jammeh supporters. Jammeh lost this election no matter what-the total combine opposition votes is a decisive just add the numbers of barrow and kandeh and put it into % that will tells you that jammeh is done.
Asalamu Alaikum.
He who calls for justice must come with clean hands. Truth is for Allah and if you hide the truth by means of deceptive words or flamboyant speech to deviate the people from the right course ,well Allah is enough for a witness. We won’t waste valuable energy to counter or respond to scavengers like Sam but rather we will focus on praying to Allah to save our Gambia from hypocrites like him. Hypocrisy has the highest punishment in hell. Sam is a butterfly trying to be a bird. We know ur kind but Allah is enough for a witness and Him and only Him we worship not human beings incarnated as God. Sam you can worship him but we won’t .
Sam sarr, is disgraceful, this man is not a honest person and no one will ever trust him, we know that he is a failure who will remain fail and if he dont stop making this false allegation, soon entire gambia will disown him.
Soninke, Jammeh made the point about the numbers on some voting cards not corresponding to the main register. He said,and correct me if I’m wrong, he said that in the past they would have realised that there was a mistake in the main register and just allowed the voter to vote. In my view this would then allow fraud. If this is what he is advocating then I don’t think that it would ever be a good idea to have a re election under his power.He may have lost the election because people weren’t allowed to fraudulently vote in this manner.
Jammeh made the point about the numbers on some voting cards not corresponding to the main register. He said,and correct me if I’m wrong, he said that in the past they would have realised that there was a mistake in the main register and just allowed the voter to vote. In my view this would then allow fraud. If this is what he is advocating then I don’t think that it would ever be a good idea to have a re election under his power.He may have lost the election because people weren’t allowed to fraudulently vote in this manner.
Never vote in my life I just don’t want to see anyone talking about war as Senegal Mackey already did and get fake armies on standby.Gambia is very good example not just in Africa and Gambian people are like one family so let’s talk and talk things will be sorted out peacefully I’m we will enjoy 2 term of 5 years without any blood,,,let’s pray and hope people are working hard to prevent blood bath . Today the army forces are in the power so only dialogue can change it.i have a family member in all ethnic groups from A to Z for me no bad Gambian just miss understanding . Again I’m working for child’s of the Gambia my job is so far from politicians thanks all
Uderstandable soninke, this guy jammeh is the problem thats why he bought weapons to use against his own people. And believe me he will damage his own tribes men future by acting this way.
Thanks uthman 100% agree with you inshaa allah things will be sorted out asap!! Allah is great thanks again mr Uthman
When you have been in power for 22 long years, no one wants to know the details of how you lost an election.
Nelson Mandela became an African Colossus not just because he stood up for what is right, but because he walked away from power willingly, without any hesitation whatsoever.
Yahya Jammeh is about to go down as a horrible African!
SONINKE ARE YOU SAYING THAT IF YOU FOUND AN INTRUDER IN YOUR HOUSE THAT IS THREATENING YOUR FAMILY THAT YOU WILL LET THEM BE AS GOD WILL DEAL WITH HIM?
Muslims cannot pre-emptively initiate a war. They are only allowed to act in defense.
Muslims have permission from God to fight back only when they are expelled from their houses or lands.
War can be waged if there is a situation where defenseless people are under attack and ask their Muslim allies for help.
The last reason for a just war is when war breaks out between two groups of believers and one party does not intend to stop it in spite of a proposed truce.
sometimes when I think of the fact that I am a Gambian I feel so ashamed of myself .
why are we bent on spoiling the only one thing that Allag has give us??
Why do we allow outsiders to come and spoil our beloved peaceful Little Gambia.
Let’s look at our neighbouring Senegal , Those people do not have the kind of peace we are enjoying and that somewhat made me feel that they envy us and that is why they pray for us to fight among ourselves ..
Come to think of it, How can I call myself a Gambia and still talk ill about The President of my own country ?
Talking bad about my President is as exact as talking bad about my own country . Gambians are the most ungrateful creatures I had ever known !!
Anybody that respect him or herself can never talk Bad about His or Her President.
You are lost fatima.
You are lost fatima.
I don’t know how a person who came to power through the barrel of a gun will ever respect the will of a people in an election that did not favour him.
Simply put Mr Jammeh thinks that elections are always for him to win,they were fair when he won,but unfair when he lost,blaming the IEC and everyone and accusing them of not being God fearing,but the question is he and who appointed the IEC Chairman?
I understand Jammeh’s need to challenge the results Judicially, but that should not delay the hand over. Secondly, the supreme court that has not sat for years has left it so late in the month to SIT on the case.
From Mr deputy Ambassador’s assessment, Jammeh still lost. so He should bow out nicely.
I do no think Senegal or any other Nation should threaten violence, but they should ensure that there is peace and no violence or oppression from the Gambian military on its citizens.
However, if the man wants to just sit there delaying matters while oppressing his lovely people, who are so peace loving, then he should be taken out by any mean necessary. I personally would wear uniform to join a group to oust him as I love gambia and its people and cannot sit back and see them oppressed by a man who lost the Elections.
African leaders are so stupid and useless. Why is 22 years not enough for him? Basatrd
Yes, Ade Odukpe, every opportunities was given to jammeh but he just want to try something impossible, secondly he dont love gambian, he like to use them for his selfishness. Just look anything he wanted will come from outside gambia e.g his wife came from outside gambia his kids going to school outside gambia the water he drink from outside gambia and foods most of them outside gambia, the people who kill themselves about jammeh dont know their values. Jammeh want gambian alone stay loyal to him when infact he dont care for them , all judges are not gambian but you order foriegn machinaries to come and do the job for you. He stole all gambian wealth and enrich himself buying weapons just to keep him in power by all means. A chiness man said a wise man dont argued alot.
I am not a Gambian, but I think people should remember that they bring nothing to this world, they will take away nothing. If you have been opportuned to serve your country and another person wants to take over, even if truely there is a mistake in the counting and you have formerly accepted a result, why can,t you just accept and leave for the sake of peace and thanking your God for giving you the opportunity to serve. YOU ARE NOT THE BEST PERSON IN THAT COUNTRY. I will just plead that you change your mind and let others try their best. Do not shed innocent blood before you return back to your original form (dust). Remember you will give account of whatever you do on earth beyond.
am a nigerian. most African leaders like jammie are disgrace to d continent. west African force must bundle yayyah out of office