Weighing in on the development through a statement sent to this paper, the party said: “The 30th December 2014 incident, however described, runs contrary to our constitutional arrangement for changing government. The United Democratic Party believes that the gun and the bullet are not the acceptable substitute for the ballot and the ballot token. Gambians of all political persuasion should repose their confidence in the ballot box as a means of effecting regime change. Let us all embrace the electoral process.
“As we reject extra legal means of regime change, we call on the government of The Gambia to make the electoral process attractive, encourage and allow free participation by all in the political life of the country within the limits permitted by the 1997 constitution and other laws. For this, a comprehensive electoral reform that ensures free, fair and credible elections and the rights of the citizens to freely express their views on matters affecting them are among key issues that need to be addressed. The 30th December incident should provide an opportunity to the president and all Gambians to find out why there have been so many attempts to change the regime by unconstitutional means. This should be everybody’s concern as these attempts tend to affect all of us in various ways and in varying degrees.”
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