The arrest of former NPP supporter Mbemba Drammeh has been called “laughable” by Hon. Mama Kandeh, Secretary General and Party Leader of the Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC), who has reaffirmed his disapproval of the outcome of the 2021 presidential election.
Kandeh questioned why similar measures had not been taken against other prominent figures who made similar accusations regarding the election and criticised the circumstances surrounding Drammeh’s arrest while speaking at the GDC’s biannual congress in Wasu, which was attended by thousands of party supporters.
It’s absurd that Mbemba was arrested. Even now, Mama Kandeh, I continue to reject the outcome of the 2021 election. Ousainou Darboe and I both claimed that the election was rigged, and Mbemba claimed to have knowledge of the election’s tampering and to have been detained for it. But why didn’t they take me or Darboe into custody? It was initially said by us. If it’s about the proof, the case didn’t move on even though the UDP presented the Chief Justice with more than 3,000 pages of evidence. Don’t let them bother Mbemba. Whether he says it or someone else does, the truth will be revealed,” Kandeh said.
Kandeh also asserted that his party had produced important evidence, such as documents and video recordings, but that the court had done nothing about it.
“We presented written proof and images, but they ignored us. A man claiming to be employed by the IEC is even shown on film stating that he was a member of the team that registered individuals at Majum Real Estate, which is connected to President Barrow’s office. Why wasn’t that man taken into custody? “The Gambians are not sleeping,” he claimed.
In addition, the GDC leader questioned how the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) handles the timeframes for political parties to hold their congresses.
In a letter to all political parties, you [IEC] established a deadline of December 31st for holding congresses. We’re all in a haste to fulfil that prerequisite. However, it has been reported that certain parties are permitted to convene their congress in January. Kandeh stated, “I urge the IEC to write to all political parties and explain why this is permitted.”
