By Lamin Cham & Omar Bah
Impeccable sources have told The Standard that the UDP is about to file a case in the court to seek a resolution to the impasse surrounding the fate of Sheriffo Sonko, the chairman of Brikama Area Council.
Last month the UDP expelled Chairman Sonko from the party which automatically rendered his elective office vacant in accordance with the Local Government Act.
However, Mr Sonko is still staying put and the Independent Electoral Commission which is obliged to call a by-election for the position is yet to do so.
IEC chairman Alieu Momarr Njai told this paper that what is required for the commission to act is a formal notification from the Council about the expulsion of its chairman by his party.
That notification has proved difficult to come by because the expelled chairman is himself the head of the council while the chief executive officer, Modou Jonga has indicated in a letter to the UDP seen by The Standard that he “does not have the mandate” to issue such notification.
The Ministry of Local Government which has oversight of the municipal and area councils has not also acted on the matter.
However last night, a reliable source informed this paper that the UDP has finally made up its mind to take legal action against the IEC and any other party relevant in the matter for failing to act in accordance with the dictates of the law.
According to our source, the party intends to file its case latest today, Monday, unless a tangible action is taken by the parties concern.
If Chairman Sonko does leave, the IEC will be obliged to organise a by-election within 90 days for the position of chairman of the West Coast Region, with a total voter population of 281,115.
