 |
| Yahyah-Jammeh |
Gambian leader, Yahyah Jammeh, has lost a bid for another term to Adama Barrow who was declared winner of the Presidential election.
Mr Jammeh, who has been ruling the nation for 22 years, had vowed to remain in the helm of affairs for “a billion years”.
The electoral commission head declared Mr Barrow president-elect on state television, with 45.5 per cent of the vote against Jammeh’s 36.7 per cent.
“Having received 263, 515 votes out of the total votes cast in the election, I hereby declare Adama Barrow newly elected to serve as president of the republic of the Gambia,” Alieu Momarr Njai said.
He earlier told reporters in Banjul earlier on the election day, that Jammeh would concede, although he was yet to make a public statement as election results were being concluded.
Barrow also told Reuters by telephone on Friday he was expecting a phone call from Jammeh conceding the election.
gambian-election: Concession from Jammeh
Defeat and a concession from Jammeh was expected to be momentous.
Earlier the week he had said that his “presidency and power are in the hands of Allah and only Allah can take it from me”, and on one occasion even said he would remain in office for “a billion years”.
Voting against Jammeh was a rare show of defiance against a leader human rights groups say routinely crushes dissent by imprisoning and torturing opponents.
Gambians voted amid a total blackout of the internet and all international calls, and with land borders sealed, in a poll posing the first serious challenge to Jammeh since he seized power in a coup in 1994.
He previously said he had invented a herbal cure for AIDS that only works on a Thursdays.
He also arrested hundreds of people on suspicion of being witches or wizards and threatened to slit the throats of and decapitate homosexuals.
Jammeh’s supporters deny abuses and he has often criticized Western powers for meddling in African affairs.
Barrow, the President-elect, who has for the first time united and galvanized Gambia’s opposition, has promised to revive the economy, whose sluggishness pushes thousands of Gambians to flee to Europe in search of a better life.
He has also promised to end human rights abuses and to step down after three years as a boost to democracy.
As expected, President Yahya Jammeh conceded defeat like Jonathan
President Yahya Jammeh conceded defeat in the Gambian election as expected by many watchers of African elections who wanted the example given by Jonathan to be emulated by every African leader who loses an election.
So, observers have been comparing his concession to that of Nigeria's Goodluck Jonathan
President Yahya Jammeh lost the presidential election in Gambia after 22 years in power.
Jammeh's main opponent in the election, Adama Barrow scored 263,515 votes to defeat the president who scored 212,099 votes.
Earlier the BBC quoted the head of the Gambian electoral commission as saying President Yahya Jammeh will concede defeat to his major opponent, Adama Barrow in the presidential election.
The electoral umpire said it is unprecedented for a Gambian head of state to accept defeat before the announcement of the final results.
Jammeh had been trailing Barrow in partial results released by the electoral body in the last 24 hours.
Jammeh took power in a coup in 1994 in the tiny West African nation and has been in charge for all of 22 years.
His office is yet to release a statement since the results started trickling in.
A reporter with the UK's Guardian newspaper in Gambia, Ruth Mclean claims the concession video by Jammeh was already recorded long before the final results.
Observers of African politics say Nigeria's Jonathan had set a good example for African leaders to follow after he conceded to incumbent Muhammadu Buhari as vote counting was still on.
As Jammeh defeat is imminent, some Gambians. took to the streets to celebrate the end of an era.
President Buhari Congratulates Gambian President-Elect, Adama Barrow:
President Muhammadu Buhari, along with so many African leaders, have long congratulated the President-elect of the Gambia, Mr Adama Barrow, on his victory in the country’s December 1 presidential election.
The Nigerian President also saluted the spirit of statesmanship displayed by the outgoing President of The Gambia, Alhaji Yahya Jammeh, by conceding defeat, noting that such uncommon gesture is crucial in calming fears of unrest in the West African nation.
While expressing delight at the gallantry shown by President Jammeh, President Buhari enjoined President-elect Barrow to be magnanimous in victory.
The Nigerian leader also commended Gambians for peacefully exercising their democratic right to freely choose their leader and called on all stakeholders to maintain the peace.
President Buhari said that he was looking forward to a smooth transition of power and working with the incoming President of The Gambia to deepen existing cordial relations between both countries.
The electoral commission head declared Mr Barrow president-elect on state television, with 45.5 per cent of the vote against Jammeh’s 36.7 per cent.
“Having received 263, 515 votes out of the total votes cast in the election, I hereby declare Adama Barrow newly elected to serve as president of the republic of the Gambia,” Alieu Momarr Njai said.
With Barrow’s victory, Gambian leader, Yahyah Jammeh, lost a bid for another term after having ruled the nation for 22 years and vowed to remain in the helm of affairs for “a billion years”.