Gambia President Adama Barrow who is seeking a second term has called on the Independent Electoral Commission to remain neutral and vigilant in overseeing the voting process.
President Barrow was speaking in Banjul after casting his vote in the capital city Banjul.
Barrow also expressed optimism that he will emerge as the winner with a ‘landslide victory’ and further disclosed that he will accept the outcome of the results.
“I am hopeful that before the end of the day my supporters (NPP) will be out on the streets to celebrate our victory. Everyone has seen our huge crowds during the campaign period,” Barrow said and called on the people to remain calm and law abiding.
The Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission Alieu Momar Njai told the press that the Gambia’s electoral process is the ‘best in the world’.
Njie revealed that the 2016 election mistake was caused by the former Gambian dictator who threatened to bomb the Commission if they did not change the results in his favour, but he (Njai) remained adamant and accordingly declared the results in its original format.
Essa Mbaye Faal, an Independent candidate who voted in Banjul urged citizens to be law abiding whatever the outcome of the results saying “anyone who is not happy with the outcome of the results should go to the courts and challenge the results”.
Mamma Kandeh leader of the opposition GDC called on the IEC to be vigilant. He also appealed to electorates to exercise calm.
The leader of the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP), Lawyer Ousainou Darboe who voted in Fajara also called for calm, adding that, any disturbance during election’s will affect the tourism season.
The UDP leader who came with a crochet to vote in Fajara commended the Barrow administration for providing him with 32 security personnel in the entire campaign process.
Additional Reporting by Mafuji Ceesay
