Talks with Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja, Nigeria geared towards shaping a consensus around the beleaguered draft constitution has failed to produce a breakthrough.
Gambia political leaders are in Nigeria for talks over the draft constitution as the charter remains trapped in uncertainty following its collapse in parliament last year.
The leaders have been bitterly split over it and former Nigerian leader Goodluck Jonathan has since been spearheading dialogue among them.
The dialogue process has now taken them to Nigeria but a deal could not be reached after three days of talks, one person familiar with the talks told The Fatu Network.
All leaders but UDP’s Darboe agreed for the knocking out of the so-called retroactive clause which would have condemned President Barrow to just one new five-year term in office if the new constitution is adopted, with his current term counted. UDP’s disagreement on this means there was no deal.
Still, the whole process has now been thrown into further uncertainty after the UDP also dissented over the way and manner the draft constitution should be returned to parliament.
Parties have conceded to the idea of changes to be made to the draft before its re-submission in parliament but UDP has rejected that idea and wants the draft to remain unaltered and be taken to parliament as it is.
