During the second reading of the 2024 draft constitution, members of the United Democratic Party (UDP) in the National Assembly formally opposed it, encouraging their fellow lawmakers to oppose taking the bill to the consideration stage.
Lawmakers from the UDP contend that the draft constitution does not adequately represent the goals of the Gambian people. Strong opposition was voiced by Banjul North’s UDP National Assembly Member, Modou Lamin B. Bah, who emphasized that his constituents had told him to oppose the bill. He also emphasized the governing majority caucus’s basic lack of trust.
“Today, tomorrow, and forever, I will not support this document on behalf of my people. And that’s what I honestly think, and that’s what my people think. If we decided to advance this text to a new stage, we would be incredibly self-centered,” Bah said.
The minority leader and UDP representative for Brikama North, Hon. Alhagie S. Darboe, reiterated the view, citing what he saw as the majority caucus’s lack of good faith.
The executive produced that document, which is not people-centered. Now that you are pressuring us to embrace it, we can make the necessary changes. However, in 2020, we proposed that, and you rejected it. In 2020, you claimed to have the minority and we the majority, but now it’s the other way around; we have the minority and you have the majority. You now have the number if you are unable to accept and have faith in us to go to the deliberation step and make the necessary changes. We go there, you’re saying. When you don’t trust me (in 2020), how can we trust you? “Darboe said.”
Along with rejecting the law, UDP Member for Bakau Assan Touray said that more than 120 sections had been altered from the 2020 draft without sufficient national consultation.
“After reviewing the draft constitutions for 2020 and 2024 as the representative of the people, I have discovered that more than 120 sections have been altered that the country cannot understand and that no consultation was conducted on them. Having said that, I would like to express to the country my strong opposition to the 2024 proposed constitution,” he said.
The Sami Constituency’s representative, Hon. Alfusainey Ceesay, denounced the procedure as hasty and careless.
“I believe they put the cart before the horse in 2024, even though we know that the constitution cannot benefit everyone. “I completely oppose this draft constitution for 2024,” Ceesay said.
Kiang East Member Yahya Gasama said the draft does not represent the people’s wishes. “I want to let this August Assembly know that if something were to happen to me before a vote, please take my vote as one of those who said no to this into consideration,” he said.
While acknowledging the public’s demand for a new constitution, Sulayman Saho, who represents the Central Badibu constituency, condemned the process. We all desire a new constitution for the Gambia, but the president of the Republic is the one who owes the Gambian people the most duty. The procedure was not democratic, so we cannot endorse this,” he said.
Similar worries were expressed by other UDP lawmakers. Brikama South’s Hon. Lamin J. Sanneh urged the investigation of alternate strategies, citing a “lack of trust” in the committee tasked with considering the constitution. “We definitely want to push this out and look for another alternative because there is a trust issue with the committee of consideration,” he stated.
The Tallinding Kunjang MP, Hon. Musa Badjie, underlined that the draft constitution is not in the best interests of Gambians. “The Gambian people should be aware that this Constitution is not optimal for them.”
Latrikunda Sabiji Member Yahya Menteng Sanyang restated the opposition’s stance. He declared, “The opposition is prepared to engage in negotiations, but we are only able to do so around the 2020 Draft.”
In a final, unambiguous rejection, Kiang West Member Lamin Ceesay declared, “We have nothing to do for you today other than rejecting this Draft Constitution.”
