(JollofNews) – President Yahya Jammeh of the Gambia has expelled the local councillor of Bwiam Ward, Mam Fatou Nyassi-Dukureh, from the ruling APRC party.
Ms Nyassi-Dukureh who represented the Foni Kansala ward since 2007 was expelled from her safe seat on Tuesday morning.
No reasons were given for her expulsion but a statement from the APRC secretariat said it was in accordance with the provisions of the party’s constitution.
Under Gambian law, councillors who are elected on a party ticket are answerable to their party leader and automatically lose their seat when the whip is withdrawn by their party leader. President Jammeh has used the law to expel many National Assembly members and councillors of his party in recent years.
The country’s Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) is expected to announce the date for a bye-election soon.
Ms Nyassi-Dukureh used to be the darling of the APRC in the Fonis and was a staunch supporter of President Yahya Jammeh. In return for her support to the ruling party, she was given the Member of the National Order of the Republic of the Gambia (MRG) award by Mr Jammeh in 2010.
