By Adama Makasuba
Honorable Mamma Kandeh, leader of Gambia Democratic Congress, has defied to concede defeat after the Independent Electoral Commission declared his long-term political rival President-elect Adama Barrow winner of December 4 presidential election.
Kandeh who secured 12% of the vote was speaking at his home after signing a joint declaration statement with United Democratic Party’s leader Ousainou Darboe to reject the election results saying “everyone has seen me at Ousainou Darboe’s residence, we went there to sign a joint declaration that we reject the results and I still don’t accept the results despite I can’t stop Adama Barrow from becoming the president but I also own myself and I will not accept the results,” defiant Kandeh said.
Meanwhile, Honorable Kandeh blamed Barrow for keeping the ECOMIG forces in the country without reasons, adding the forces of the regional bloc, Ecowas, are not seen in other West African nations where they are at war.
“If they can stay in this country that’s the ECOMIG without war and fighting here, we saw killings happening in other countries in Africa and we don’t see them there [and] example is Guinea Conakry and Burkina Faso. We don’t see Ecowas there. A peaceful Gambia, a small Gambia we are being occupied by foreign forces, part (of) Senegalese forces.” he added.
However, he called on his supporters and Gambians to calm down, maintain peace and restrain from violence for the betterment of the country.
“So, I am asking everybody, every militant of these three political parties [GDC, APRC, GAP] including the independents, the love we have for our country must continue and let everybody stay calm, respect each other and move forward for the betterment of this country. This is a must and we must do this,” he appealed.
