Assembly passes resolution on political crisis

By Omar Bah Members of the National Assembly yesterday considered and approved a resolution bill to commend and appreciate the good efforts of ECOWAS, in the efforts to peacefully settle the post-election impasse in the Gambia. Delivering the communiqué before a full assembly house, the majority leader and NAM for Serekunda East Fabakary Tombong Jatta said the national assembly being the duly elected representatives of the sovereign people appreciate and salute the ECOWAS on-going commitments to the peaceful resolution of the country’s post-election impasse within the confines of the constitution and other laws of the country. “We further noted with appreciation, the appointment of Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal republic of Nigeria to serve as the mediator and John Dramani Mahama, former President of Ghana as the co-chair. “We also salute and commend the Gambian people and the armed and security forces for their professionalism and neutrality during this trying moments,” he said. Mr Jatta stressed that parliamentarians also recognised the fact that, the sovereignty of the Gambia resides in the people of the country from whom all organs of government derive their authority and in whose name powers of government are to be exercised in accordance with the 1997 constitution. “We also want to make very clear that, any registered political party or independent candidate who has participated in the presidential election may apply to the Supreme Court to determine the validity of the election of a president by filling a petition within ten days of the declaration of the election results. Therefore, we recognise and uphold the constitution rights of the APRC party to contest the December 1stelection result,” Mr Jatta said. He said the NAMs also respect and uphold that, the supreme court of the Gambia has the exclusive original jurisdiction on any question as to whether or not any person was validly elected to the office of president or was validly elected to, or vacate his/her seat. He went on: “As much as we recognise that the IEC is the statutory body responsible for all elections and shall declare and announce results of all elections and referenda for which it is responsible, we also noted with dismay and concern, the errors and lapses commissioned and admitted by the IEC in the declared results, being the principal cause of the post-election crisis,”. Mr Jatta called on ECOWAS to continue respecting and protecting the sovereignty and independence of the Gambia. “We also urged them to maintain their commitment to the peaceful resolution of our post-election impasse within the confines of the constitution and other laws of the Gambia”, he noted. The Serekunda East NAM went further to urge the ECOWAS mediation team to excise restraint and utmost good faith with the negotiation on the on-going post-election impasse and to refrain from any action that would disrespect or destabilise the sovereignty, independence, peace, tranquillity and territorial integrity of the Gambia and her people. “We finally call on ECOWAS authority of heads of state and governments to urgently facilitate and provide the Gambia, as a member-state, with Supreme Court judges to hear the election petition filed, in other to settle this impasse peacefully and judiciously,” he noted.]]>