The preliminary results from Saturday’s National Assembly election are showing the opposition UDP retaining many seats, and defeating NPP candidates in Busumbala, Tallinding, Lower Badibu, and Latri kunda.
Polls opened at 8 am and closed at 5 pm with a low voter turnout compared to the Dec 4 presidential election.
Out of the 14 constituency results released so far by the Independent Electoral Commission, IEC, the NPP lost all three seats in Banjul, and in Kiang East, Kaing West, and Kaing Central to the UDP and an Independent candidate.
The NPP has won all the seats in the Jarras, whilst the NRP won in Upper Saloum, but lost in Lower Baddibu to UDP and in Janjanbureh to the Independent candidate called Omar Jammeh.
Around 245 candidates including 85 Independents and 19 women contested for the 53 seats in this second legislative election since the departure of long-time ruler Yahya Jammeh.
“The likelihood is that [Barrow] will take the majority of the house, and be able to draw from the support of splinter actors, such as independent candidates,” said Jeggan Grey Johnson of the Open Society Foundation’s Africa Governance Monitoring and Advocacy Project.
The weekend election was monitored by international bodies, including the EU, Ecowas, AU, and local elections observers.
