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Momodou
Denmark
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 Posted - 31 Aug 2006 : 12:14:57
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There Presidential Aspirants Nomination
Three Candidates were on Monday nominated at the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) offices along the Kairaba Avenue as contestants for the September 22nd Presidential Polls. The Trio are, Halifa Sallah of the National Alliance for Democracy and Development (NADD), Yaya Jammeh of the Alliance for Patriotic Re-orientation and Construction (APRC) and Ousainou Darboe of the United Democracy Party.
However, the IEC Chairman disqualified Henry Gomez an aspirant candidate for the newly established Gambia People's Democratic Party (GPDP).
JAMMEH OPTIMISTIC OVER SEPTEMBER POLLS
Incumbent President, Yaya Jammeh, has told reporters shortly after his nomination on Monday that he will win the September Polls, even if a million alliances are contesting with him.
"I expect more than this from The Gambia people, because they are development oriented. Gambian people want the country to be number one and they know who can do it," Jammeh said.
He said he is a responsible person and not a self-centred man. "To show that I am a responsible person, I have my wife next to me. I am not alone and I am not a self-centred person. I am here for the people and that is why I have a wife and that shows the difference between me and the rest," he expressed. Jammeh also said that even if there will be a continental elections in Africa, not many African Presidents can contest against him.
HENDRY GOMEZ DISQUALIFIED BY IEC
The Independent Electoral Commission disqualified the aspirant candidate for The Gambia Party for Democracy and Progress Mr. Hendry Gomez.
Mr. Gomez was informed of his disqualification at the 11th hour of the nomination. Militants of his party and his wife Isatou Darboe-Gomez accompanied Mr. Gomez.
Mr. Gomez was dressed in a black Suit with his distraught supporters in Orange attire and banners bearing a symbol of two elephants, which faced each other. Speaking to journalists shortly after he was sentenced wrongly and the move taken by the IEC not healthy.
"I took everything in good faith, he remarked. The APRC knows that my party was a threat to them I can simply dislodge Jammeh's regime." Gomez said.
"The IEC said I am not a residing in this country, which I feel is not a true judgment of my story. I am residing in this country he stressed. Mr. Gomez said he has not made any mistake, noting it is a bitter moment for the party. "I know I was judged wrongly because of cowardice," he stressed.
"I have been residing in this country for the past three years, I read the constitution clearly. I am not a fool, but I have been sentenced wrongly, I believe that this is what God has decided for me."
"I am a law abiding citizen, we pray for peace in this country, Mr. Gomez and GPDP can still go for alliance, we are oppositions and we will always put our weight on the opposition, but not the ruling party," he remarked. He noted that he had the potential to unseat the APRC regime, "This is why people have to wait until the last minute and then try to play this kind of game."
Speaking to the reporter, the IEC Chairman, Mr. Mustapha Carayol stated that there are three candidates: Halifa Sallah, Yaya Jammeh and Ousainou Darboe.
He said that the GPDP candidate did not have the constitutional requirement to be nominated, he said Section 62 of the Constitution has stated that the person must be an ordinary resident in the country for five years.
The IEC Chairman said he was satisfied because all the candidates who were nominated met all the requirements.
Source:Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 71/2006, 30-31 August, 2006
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