PDOIS leader Halifa Sallah has dropped a huge hint that he will bow out regarding Gambian politics, telling reporters he has reached the pinnacle.

Mr Sallah is the country’s most experienced political leader contesting the December presidential election. He has not achieved much in terms of votes in past elections.

He however warned on Wednesday that he was on his way out of Gambian political process.

Mr Sallah said: “I have reached the pinnacle of my participation in your political process. I am going to be honest, I am going to be direct and I am going to help you to know that this is the final battle of ideas.”

The veteran politician filed his nomination papers with the IEC on Wednesday, in a crowded race of over two dozen candidates.

GANU leader Sheikh Tijan Hydara has addressed the issue of his short-lived alliance with former President Jammeh’s supporters.

Mr Hydara’s political fortune boomed but only briefly after Jammeh changed his mind regarding his supporters backing Mr Hydara.

Speaking exclusively to The Fatu Network, Hydara said he is not bothered by the break up of the alliance as it could be God who changed his mind.

He said: “Even God changes his mind, what is the problem? You said I said in the rally that it’s God that destined the alliance with APRC. What about if God changes his mind, if God decides that that is not the best for me.”

The President of The Gambia and Presidential Candidate of the National People’s Party (NPP) Adama Barrow has said that he is a democrat and he believes in the principles of democracy and the rule of law, indicating that he has been in office for five years and has brought development to this nation, promising to continue in that direction.

President Barrow was speaking after successfully presenting his nomination papers to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) at Election House

He started his address to the media by extending his condolence to the bereaved family of party supporters who died yesterday as they made their way to the nomination venue at Election House.

“I am a democrat and I believe in the principles of democracy and the rule of law. I have been in office for five years and I have brought development to this nation, and I will continue in that direction,” President Barrow said.

He further noted that where there is no infrastructure there is no development. Therefore, he will continue his infrastructural development.

“I have already fulfilled all requirements, we play by rules and regulations and it is now left with the IEC to do their job,” President Barrow said.

He maintained that they (NPP) are in alliance with the APRC in the best interest of the country, national security and development.

He went on to advise the IEC to be independent. “You are the referee, and you must be independent, and it makes the job easy for the players and it makes it easy for all the players to accept the results”.

Adama Barrow was born in Mankamang Kunda, a village near Basse Santa Su on 15 February 1965 and is the third and current President of The Gambia. He attended Crab Island Secondary School and the Muslim High School.

Barrow was then chosen as the UDP candidate in the 2016 presidential election. It was later announced that he would stand as an independent with the backing of the opposition group Coalition 2016 (a coalition supported by the UDP and six other parties).

Barrow won the 2016 presidential election with 43.34% of the vote, defeating long-time incumbent Yahya Jammeh. Jammeh initially accepted the result, but later reneged on this, and Barrow was forced to flee to neighbouring Senegal. He was inaugurated at the Gambian embassy in Senegal on 19 January 2017, and Jammeh was forced to leave the Gambia and go into exile on 21 January. Barrow returned to The Gambia on 26 January.

Five supporters of the National People’s Party died after they van they were travelling in to Kombo for President Adama Barrow’s nomination got into an accident in Kiang.

The supporters were from Basse in the Upper River Region on Wednesday when the accident occurred.

President Adama Barrow will file his nomination papers at the IEC this morning.

Essa Faal has filed in his nomination credentials but it will be remembered for the lawyer going on an extraordinary tantrum.

Mr Faal arrived at the IEC at 9am today but he was visibly upset that he did not come with his crowd due to what he called political sabotage.

“This is the worst political sabotage that has happened in Gambian political history as far as I know it. You see, we can be opponents in the political field but we should also be gentlemenand women. So to behave in such criminal conduct really is… Is conduct not befitting any government official in any country,” Mr Faal alleged.

According to Mr Faal, they hired 200 gele gele vans only for their deal with fuel dealers to be scuppered by NPP. The drivers allegedly changed their mind after the NPP offered them a better deal.

Mr Faal said: “Otherwise today Gambians will see. But they cannot stop this, this has taken root in people’s hearts already. I am more determined today. I am more confident today and my trust in Gambian youth can never be shaken. They know what is going on. See how happy they are.”

One of the Independent candidates in the 2021 Gambian presidential election Essa M. Faal has said that youth empowerment is fundamental to change The Gambia.

He was speaking immediately after presenting his nomination documents to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) at Election House.

“Today is historic for several reasons, the young men and women are speaking loudly they want change. Everywhere in the country people are shouting that they want change and are expressing their distrust for this government,” Essa M. Faal said.

He further alleged that the NPP of President Adama Barrow sabotaged their nomination by paying double for the vehicles they had already paid for.

“I have never seen such low play in politics of this country, I never thought I would witness a day in which democracy will be circled by a very unpopular government. Come December 4 we will  change that.

He noted that youth empowerment among several other things is fundamental to changing The Gambia complaining that doing business in The Gambia is becoming more difficult as the years go by.

“If The Gambia continues in this direction many Gambian’s will continue to invest abroad. I want to make this country a safe and competitive place,” Faal said.

Commenting on accusations that he holds a Senegalese Citizenship he said,

“That is the most nonsensical accusation, that I have dual citizenship. What can a Senegalese citizenship do for me that a Gambian citizenship cannot do for me? If I had I would have renounced it,” Faal said angrily.

Essa Faal was born on the 13th of March 1966 in Banjul. He has extensive knowledge and experience in international criminal law and international human rights law.

He started his legal career as a State Counsel at the Ministry of Justice in The Gambia in 1994 and during this period he served as Counsel to the Commission of Inquiry into the Financial Activities of Public Corporations.

He has worked for the International Criminal Court (ICC) serving as Counsel for Charles Ghankay Taylor (former President of Liberia) before the Residual Special Court for Sierra Leone and Counsel for Saif Al Islam Gaddafi at the ICC.

In September 2018 soon after the establishment of the Gambia truth commission, Essa Faal was appointed lead counsel, a job he just completed after three years of probing and bringing to light, the true extent of the 22- year reign of terror of former president Yahya Jammeh.

One of the candidates for the presidency of The Gambia Tamsir Jasseh has called on all Gambians to work together to solve the country’s problems since every Gambian has in one way or the other contributed to creating the problem

He was speaking after his nomination process at the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC)

“We all contributed to creating this problem so we must work together to change this situation. We must get the change that we voted for. There is nothing in this nation but hopelessness, poverty and disease, but we have a lot of potential in the youth. We need a leader that will come forward and harness this potential,” Tamsir Jasseh said.

He further noted that his party is willing to look beyond tribe or religion and implement the law as it is in the country’s law books. He revealed that there is a lot of poverty in The Gambia because the people are corrupt

But how does he intend to fight corruption?  He said the laws must be enforced and those who violate the laws must be held accountable. Speaking about his citizenship status he confirmed that he does have American citizenship but the process of dropping it has begun.

Tamsir Jasseh is the first Gambian presidential candidate to possess dual citizenship in the Gambia and the United States of America. He is also the first Gambian war veteran to seek the office of the president of the Republic of the Gambia. He served in the United Nations Navy and was a veteran of the first Gulf War (Operation Desert Storm) and the first Gambian to serve as policy adviser for the Gambia Police Force.

He served as deputy inspector general of the Gambia Police Force, and director-general of the Gambia Immigration Department. He holds a Master of Science degree in terrorism and homeland security, a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice, and a graduate certificate in public administration, and a second graduate certificate in justice studies.

President Adama Barrow will be at the Independent Electoral Commission on Thursday for his nomination.

The president is seeking re-election and will battle it out with over two dozen challengers.

His sport minister Bakary Badjie is ready for the president’s nomination posting photos of the president along with the caption, “President Adama Barrow: to be Nominated 4th November – to be Elected 4th December.”

The president’s nomination is set for 11am on Thursday and a huge crowd is set to assist the president in filing his nomination.

A photographer proved helpful to Sheikh Tijang Hydara on Wednesday when he gave the GANU leader D10,000 in exchange for the politician’s rejected 200 dollars.

Mr Hydara filed his nomination papers at the IEC on Wednesday but he showed at the IEC with insufficient dalasi cash.

Mr Hydara had dollars on him but his dollars were turned down by officials of Election House when he wanted to use it to settle his D10,000 deposit.

The politician dismissed the issue when asked by reporters saying he came with Gambian dalasi but it was simply not enough and that he thought he could use his dollars instead.

During the moment of mild drama, a photographer accepted to take the politician’s 200 dollars in exchange for his D10,000 which Mr Hydara ended up giving to IEC officials.

Commentator and activist Madi Jobarteh has declared UDP leader Ousainou Darboe is the most de-tribalised leader in his life.

“Of all our political leaders Ousainou Darboe is the most de-tribalised leader in his life, and UDP is the most inclusive party.

“Check the life of each leader and check the leadership and membership of each party for evidence. Just stating facts,” Mr Jobarteh wrote on his Facebook on Wednesday.

UDP and leader Darboe has often been accused of being a Mandinka party and with a Mandinka agenda.

Mr Darboe has always insisted UDP isn’t a Mandinka party and has even presented the issue of him marrying women from the Wollof tribe in a bid to drive away that charge.

The leader of the Gambia Action Party (GAP), Retired Major Alieu Sowe has said that foreign troops will leave The Gambia within 72 hours after he is announced, president.

Sowe was speaking immediately after filling in his nomination to run for the presidency in the country’s December 4^th, 2021 elections. The Gambia, he said is a sovereign state and as a people, Gambian’s have a right to be free and not have interference from other nations.

When asked about a possible coalition, the GAP leader said his party is going solo.

“Every Gambian will be treated as a Gambian, if you look at my supporters, they are all young people and we know the problems of the young people,” Mr Sowe said.

Answering a question about the declaration of his asset he said if it is necessary, and if the Gambian people want, he will declare all my assets. He promised reforms in the areas of health, education and agriculture both in the short and long term.

Major Sowe, 45, is from Cheedi Wolof village in Upper Baddibu. He attended Minteh Kunda Primary School and Farafenni Senior Secondary School.

In 1996, he enrolled in a paramilitary training course at the Guards Training School Bakau and later studied criminal investigation through the Gambia Police Force Prosecution Department. He recently completed his studies in international relations and diplomacy at the Management Development Institute, MDI.

Sowe also served as a private soldier from 1995 to 2006 before being promoted to lance corporal in 2009, a staff sergeant in 2012 and captain in 2015. In 2016, he was promoted to Major.

Gambia’s veteran politician Halifa Sallah of the People’s Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS) has graced Election House to submit his nomination papers to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).

Hon Sallah was accompanied by an organised crowd of supporters who walked from the police barricade to the IEC building, unlike other prospective presidential candidates who drove in.

According to Hon. Sallah he has reached the pinnacle of his participation in politics in the country, therefore, he will help the next generation position themselves for development.

“This is my last attempt; I have played my part.  Now the Gambian people have a voice and power, we now have our own will,” Halifa Sallah said.

He went on to note that his party seeks system change, noting that only the wealth of the nation can eradicate poverty,

“The nation is a national ‘osusu’ [saving scheme], the national banks should give loans without interests. No politicians pocket can eradicate poverty,” he said.

Hon Sallah revealed that only his party has articulated a plan for the eradication of rural poverty and that is key to the development of the nation.

“No other party has articulated its plans for the eradication of rural poverty, but we have done that. Let us use the national wealth to eradicate poverty,” he said.

He emphasised that a major method of achieving this is ensuring that the village fund that comes in the form of rates or taxes go into the village treasury and not the councils.

Halifa Sallah was born in 1953 and raised in Serekunda, The Gambia. He was educated in the United States where he graduated with a degree in sociology.

He returned to the Gambia in 1977 and worked as a social worker in the Social Welfare Department.

Hon Sallah is currently a member of the National Assembly representing Serekunda.

Gambia Action Party has announced ‘pending’ impeachment for its leader Musa Ousainou Yali Batchilly.

Batchilly stunningly declared his support for President Adama Barrow on Tuesday – and writing a letter to that effect. He did so without his party’s approval.

GAP responded by suspending him and making it clear it is going into an alliance with any political party for the presidential election next month.

A statement said: “The Gambia Action Party hereby declares that Musa Ousainou Yali Batchilly is suspended from the position of the Secretary General and Party Leader pending impeachment in line with the provisions of the GAP constitution.

“Henceforth, Musa  Ousainou Yali Batchilly does no longer serve on the mantle of leadership and as member of GAP National Executive Committee.

“Meanwhile, the current National Executive Committee of GAP hereby declares that the party does not and will not go into an alliance with any party and shall contest December 4th Presidential Elections with its chosen candidate, Hon. Alieu Sowe and the nomination will go ahead according to schedule on the 3rd November 2021. Therefore, the recent declaration that GAP is going into an alliance with NPP is absolutely untrue.”

GDC National Youth President MC Cham Jnr has deleted his live streaming of former President Yahya Jammeh’s address on Tuesday.

Jammeh spoke to his supporter via telephone on Tuesday where he spent the whole time attacking Mandinkas, UDP and President Barrow.

Mr Cham Jnr came under fire for streaming the event live. He has since taken the video down.

The leader of the Gambia Alliance for National Unity (GANU) Sheikh Tijan Hydara has today Wednesday 3^rd November 2021 officially submitted his nomination papers as he seeks to run for president of The Gambia in the country’s 2021 election.

According to Mr Hydara, his destiny is in the hands of God and not Former President Yahya Jammeh. He was speaking exclusively to The Fatu Network at Election House.

“My destiny is in the hands of God, not in the hands of Yahya Jammeh,” Sheikh Tijan Hydara said.

His comment was in response to a question about the seeming coalition between himself and the APRC of former President Jammeh.

Commenting about Former President Jammeh supporting him and later withdrawing his support he said, “All he [Yahya Jammeh] has said, or the comments he has made are rubbish.”

He further noted that he has his own Political Party and that is GANU, insisting that there was no marriage between himself and any other party.

“We didn’t sign any agreement with the APRC or any other party,” he said.

He revealed that the APRC of Jammeh wanted him to be part of the coalition, but he decided to opt-out.

“I don’t want to be a dictator, whatever decision I have to make I will have to consult my people and we all have to agree,” he said. Adding that his party’s structures are intact, and they (GANU) are ready for the elections.

When elected president he promises to start by uniting the Gambian people since he thinks the people are deeply divided.

“We are deeply divided, you have allowed us, politicians, to play with your mind, the GANU party will make sure that does not happen. The Gambia should do away with all the tribal issues we should see ourselves as Gambians and this is what I will attain when I become president,” Hydara said.

When asked about why he brought dollars rather than Gambian Dalasis to pay the required deposit as per the requirements of the Electoral Commission, he said that was a mistake, but he corrected that almost immediately.

Sheikh Tijan Hydara a native of Brufut, was educated at the Gambia High School from 1981 to 1987 where he completed GCE A levels. He proceeded to read Law at the University of Sokoto, Nigeria graduating with an LLB combining Islamic and Common law. He later obtained his LLM at the University of West Indies, Barbados in 2002.

In 2003, he was appointed Attorney General and Minister of Justice where he served until 2006 when he went on to lecture law at the University of The Gambia

Gambia Alliance for National Unity leader Sheikh Tijan Hydara has broken his silence over how former President Yahya Jammeh treated him.

Jammeh last month ordered his supporters to rally behind Mr Hydara and his GANU leader. A few days later, Mr Hydara’s joy turned to disappointment as Jammeh asked his supporters to form a new alliance with GDC and select Mamma Kandeh as their standard-bearer.

Mr Hydara was conspicuously absent at an MoU signing ceremony at Baobab Hotel that should have featured GDC, the No Alliance Movement and GANU.

The Brufut-born told The Fatu Network exclusively: “President Jammeh has a right to change his mind and I have a right to change my mind, whether to work with the APRC or not.

“So if Yahya Jammeh changes his mind and say ‘okay, work with Mamma Kandeh’ and I feel like I don’t want to do that for obvious reasons, I think that is up to me.”

Gambia Action Party has suspended leader Musa Ousainou Yali Batchilly after his public endorsement of President Adama Barrow.

Batchilly told Star Fm exclusively on Tuesday he will back President Barrow. Later on, he published a letter he wrote to President Barrow where he is seen throwing his weight behind the president.

And in a statement signed by senior administrative secretary Muhammed Yaffa, GAP said: “The Gambia Action Party hereby declares that Musa Ousainou Yali Batchilly is suspended  from the position of the Secretary General and Party Leader pending impeachment in line with the provisions of the GAP constitution.

“Henceforth, Musa  Ousainou Yali Batchilly does no longer serve on the mantle of leadership and as member of GAP National Executive Committee.

“Meanwhile, the current National Executive Committee of GAP hereby declares that the party does not and will not go into an alliance with any party and shall contest December 4th Presidential Elections with its chosen candidate, Hon. Alieu Sowe and the nomination will go ahead according to schedule on the 3rd November 2021. Therefore, the recent declaration that GAP is going into an alliance with NPP is absolutely untrue.”