The founding leader of the Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC) political party, Mamma Kandeh has today officially presented his nomination papers to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).

Speaking immediately after the nomination process Kandeh told pressmen that the GDC was going to fight corruption to the latter.

“Since the current admin came to power, we haven’t heard anyone dismissed for corruption even though we know it’s rampant,” Mama Kandeh said.

He further noted that the health sector, education and agriculture are key areas he would improve when he becomes president of The Gambia.

When asked about his message to Gambians Kandeh said, “my message has always been peace because without peace we cannot develop. Gambians are divided, we cannot develop this country without unity,” he said.

He expressed his support for the TRRC an independent Gambian institution with a mandate to conduct research and investigations into human rights violations committed under the presidency of Yahya Jammeh.

When questioned about a coalition with other parties he stressed that he was nominated under the ticket of GDC.

Mamma Kandeh was born on the 12^th of July 1965 in Sare Birom in Jimara in the Upper River Region. He attended St. George’s Primary School in Basse, Mansjang and later moved to the town where he attended Crab Island Secondary Technical School.

Kandeh proceeded to Gambia Technical Training Institute (GTTI

Kandeh was a member of the Pan African Parliament (PAP) where he served in the committee on trade, Customs and Immigration Matters; Vice President of the West African Caucus of PAP and head of the delegation of 27 members of PAP to Libya.

Kandeh is the founding leader of the Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC) political party, which he formed in the summer of 2016. He ran as a candidate in the Gambian presidential election of 2016 and received eighty-nine thousand, seven hundred and sixty-eight (89,768) votes which amounted to 17.07% of the total votes.

Speaking to The Fatu Network a member of the APRC noted that as a party they think about Gambians, therefore they will not support the NPP and President Adama Barrow

He however suggested that as a party they have decided to throw their weight behind Mama Kandeh since his party the GDC has no legal wrangling.

Mamadi KS Camara appeared at the IEC on Tuesday with a backpack containing his documents as he filed his nomination for president.

Mr Camara, 63, plans to contest the December presidential election – and was first to file his nomination on Tuesday.

He told The Fatu Network shortly after completing filing his nomination that he intends to run for president to end injustice in the country.

Mr Camara was during former President Yahya Jammeh’s rule accused of stealing 1000 bags of rice and he said he was wrongly victimized.

“I want to be president… That injustice that was on, I want to eradicate it. Not only myself but the entire Gambia,” he told The Fatu Network, his voicing shaking.

Wallidan FC players have arrived in Saudi Arabia for a two-week training camp ahead of the upcoming domestic first division league campaign. They will be based in Jeddah.

The club announced on its official Facebook page on Sunday: “The club wish to announce we have embarked on a training camp to the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

“The 40-man delegation is headed by the club president Mr. Alieu Ceesay and will stay at the Saudi kingdom for a two week period.

“The training camp is meant for the club to get ready for the upcoming national league season and the club will also have series of tests matches with teams there.

“We seek for your prayers for a successful camp ahead.”

UDP leader Ousainou Darboe insisted ‘change is coming’ as he spoke after submitting his nomination papers for vetting at the IEC on Monday.

Darboe is the first heavyweight leader to come before IEC officials.

He wrote on his official Facebook page on Monday afternoon: “A nation united in disappointment hoping for a better future. The Gambian Youths unwilling to subcontract their future to an incompetent incumbent.

“Thirsty for empowerment and employment and yearning for a capable state, their cries of Ahjindi fill the air. All they want is a better Gambia. The weight of the nation rests on my shoulders. #ChangeIsComing.”

UDP’s commando Momodou Sabally has reacted after proudly matching to the IEC compound and delivering Darboe’s nomination documents.

“It’s signed, sealed and delivered. The Lawyer is ready,” Mr Sabally wrote alongside photos showing his walking to the IEC compound shortly before Darboe’s arrival.

Mr Darboe submitted his nomination credentials to officials of the IEC on Monday morning as nomination for president continues.

The UDP leader was accompanied to Election House by thousands of his supporters who chanted ‘Darboe has become president’.

United Democratic Party supporters showed their seriousness regarding State House when they turned up in their thousands at the IEC to see their leader Darboe submit his nomination papers to IEC officials.

UDP leader Darboe was at the IEC to present key documents for vetting in line with the electoral laws of the country.

He left the IEC optimistic of getting cleared by Election House, challenging his opponents to declare their assets as he would be doing so – while expressing gratitude to his loyal supporters.

UDP supporters are now heading to the Independence Stadium where the party would hold a rally that will last till midnight.

The Leader of the Gambia Moral Congress (GMC) Hon Mai Ahmad Fatty has successfully presented his nomination papers to the country’s electoral Commission the IEC. Shortly before he arrived Dr Bai Biran Jagne leader of the All Peoples Party presented a letter to the IEC suggesting his party’s withdrawal from the presidential race. He could later be seen accompanying Hon Fatty who came to the nomination with his mother.

Speaking to pressmen after the nomination exercise, Hon Mai Fatty noted that he is determined to lift the people of Gambia out of poverty.

“Your man is back, and I will make sure you get what you deserve to do your work. This is the beginning of the end of hunger in this country, This is the beginning of real civil service reforms,  and this is the beginning of reforms in the medical sector,” Hon Mai Ahmad Fatty said.

When asked about the recently signed MOU with four other parties including the CA, GFA, APP and NUP he noted that he is focusing on his nomination as the GMC presidential candidate in the 2021 election.

“Five parties signed an MOU, but the time is too tight for us to select a flagbearer. What is important to me is how we lift our people out of poverty. I am focusing on the bread and butter issues,” he said.

The leader of All People’s Party has elected not to file his nomination for president, appearing before IEC officials on Monday afternoon and giving them a letter.

Dr Ibrahim Jagne declined an interview request by The Fatu Network but a letter showed the APP leader pulling out of the race.

The party advanced the coalition pact with CA and GMC as the reason for why they would not be sponsoring a candidate in next month’s election.

GMC leader Ma Ahmad Fatty has lifted the lid on why he held a UDP flag in his hand while travelling to the IEC for his nomination on Monday afternoon.

Mr Fatty said: “On my way to the nomination this afternoon,  my convoy encountered UDP returnees from nominating their Party Leader. They happily rushed towards my vehicle to shake hands. I permitted them way.

“They handed me a UDP flag which I accepted to wave briefly, in the spirit of political tolerance and national unity. GMC, being the most disciplined political Party in The Gambia, politics to us, is a source of goodness, not division and acrimony.”

GMC leader Mai Ahmad Fatty filed his nomination papers on Monday afternoon and went ahead to state next month’s election is not about crowd.

The various political leaders have been taking a lot of pride in the crowd of supporters that follows them wherever they go to.

But the GMC leader told reporters Monday afternoon after completing filing his nomination documents: “This election is not about crowd. This election is about wealth. It is not about fame. It is about you the ordinary Gambians. It is about your health, it is about your education, it is about your security, it is about our stomach.

“This election is about energy security. This election is a contest of ideas and not a contest of crowd, as important as that may be. Crowd is not going to govern this country. It is intellect, it is policy, it is raw gut to put an end to the cascading crime rate in this country. To ensure our law enforcement agencies have what it takes to protect our people so that Gambia’s development trajectory to be expedited.”

Mr Fatty came to election house with a small crowd compared with UDP leader Ousainou Darboe.

By Christian Conteh

UDP leader Ousainou Darboe has submitted his nomination papers to officials of the IEC, showing at Election House with charms fastened to his left hand and hand-fan.

Mr Darboe could not speak due a disorganized crowd of reporters.

The Former vice president and opposition strong man Darboe drove into the Election House with thousands of his supporters cladded in the party’s traditional yellow, fanning himself with his hand-fan in a Range Rover air-conditioned car . The United Democratic Party is Gambia’s Biggest Opposition Party.

A.N.M Ousainu Darboe  was born in 1948, in the village of Naini Dobo (Central Gambia), he attended Bansang Primary School before proceeding to St. Augustine High School and Gambia High School in Banjul where he successfully completed his GCE O Level and A Level certificates respectively. He then left for Nigeria having won a commonwealth scholarship to study law.

Darboe graduated from the University of Lagos with an honours degree in law (LLB Honours), and was called to the Federal Bar of Nigeria and subsequently to The Gambia Bar in 1973, after successfully completing the required training at the Federal Law School in Lagos. He also obtained a master’s degree in law (LLM) from the University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

By Amara Thoronka

The Governments of Sierra Leone and The Gambia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the reciprocal waiver of residence permit fee for citizens of both countries.

In a video address over the weekend, First Lady of Sierra Leone Madam Fatima Bio said she was pleased to announce that the challenges of Sierra Leoneans in securing residence permit in The Gambia are over.

“Sierra Leoneans living in The Gambia have been complaining for far too long about the fee and processes in having a residence permit in The Gambia. My husband President Julius Maada Bio has had several engagements with his brother, President Adama Barrow of The Gambia on the said issue; and after several engagements, the brothers [Presidents] have finally agreed to waive residence permits,” Madam Bio explains.

First Lady Fatima Bio emphasized that the MOU now allows for Sierra Leoneans to live in The Gambia and for Gambians to live in Sierra Leone freely without residence permits. Adding that other African countries should emulate Sierra Leone and The Gambia.

“We are all Africans and we don’t need to travel to one another’s country and be greeted by very difficult protocols and taxes,” she said.

First Lady Fatima Bio thanked both Presidents for doing what she called “necessarily needful” in promoting and strengthening the bilateral relationship between the two countries.

Sierra Leoneans living in The Gambia and Gambians living in Sierra Leone have taken to social media and some conventional media to express their appreciation on what many called “foreign burden alleviation.”

Sierra Leone’s First Lady, Madam Fatima Bio, is said to have played a pivotal role in realizing such agreement as she is a citizen of both countries, a Sierra Leonean by birth and a Gambian by descent.

National People’s Party has reacted to a letter written by a group saying the party has not fulfilled the requirements to have its candidate get nominated.

The group, R2K, argued NPP has not held a congress as per the electoral laws of the country.

But NPP spokesman Seedy Njie said in a statement on Sunday evening: “The National People’s Party led Grand Coalition wishes to remind the public that His Excellency the President, Secretary General, Party Leader and Presidential candidate, President Adama Barrow, will be nominated on Thursday 4th November, 2021 at the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) Headquarters at Bertil Harding Highway, Kanifing by 11:00am.

“Therefore, all members and supporters of our grand coalition are to receive President Adama Barrow at Sting Corner by 9:00 am and escort him to the IEC.

“The President’s motorcade will, after nomination, drive through the Fajara Traffic Lights, Fajara, Kairaba Avenue, Westfield, Serrekunda, Bundung Highway, Latrikunda Kaw-Junction and Buffa Zone where fifty thousand Women will hold a massive endorsement rally for President Adama Barrow.

“The public is urged to ignore the garbage and trash from the stupid, ignorant and irresponsible anonymous political “ususu” group calling itself R2K. Their letter to the IEC belongs to the dustbin and represents nothing but a futile and desperate attempt to campaign for their failed candidates.

“The R2K group comprising mostly of angry and vindictive ignoramuses masquerading as civil society. They are nothing but a shameless bunch of pseudo-politicians and half-baked academicians

“All that R2K said about President Barrow and the NPP is nonsensical garbage intended to confuse the public.

“The National People’s Party is not due for the biennial  Party Congress and besides, Congress is not among the requirements for nomination.

“Let it therefore, be known to all and sundry that our great leader, His Excellency President Adama Barrow, has met all the nomination requirements for the upcoming presidential election of The Gambia as established by law.”

Yunus Hydara has said the dress code for president has to be meaningful as he comes after Banky over the politician’s mode of dressing.

Independent aspirant presidential candidate Banky filed his nomination papers with the IEC on Sunday, appearing at IEC with his trademark shorts and hospital shoes.

Yunus Hydara took notice of how the politician dressed for the big day.

He wrote Sunday: “It is a conventional wisdom to dress up for the job you seeking. In this case the presidency. The president occupies the highest office of the land, and also portrays the international image of which the country’s citizenry. Thus the dress code has to be meaningful, not just riff Raff.

“Did Banky’s dress code make a good impression today? What message does his dress code portrays? Religion? Tradition? Rastafarian? smartness?”

Banky has said he lives a simple life free from extravagance.

Former President Yahya Jammeh’s Lamin Tamba has arrived in the country and has met GDC leader Mamma Kandeh.

Jammeh’s supporters this week agreed to work with GDC and have selected Mamma Kandeh as their standard-bearer.

Lamin Tamba who lives in UK has been fronting a huge war against Fabakary Tombong Jatta and his executive. He is a member of the No Alliance Movement.

He met Mr Kandeh on Sunday after arriving in the country on Saturday.

The Presidential Candidate, for the Alliance for National Reorientation and Development (ANRD) party, has said that agriculture, health, education and security will be top of his priority when he becomes President of The Gambia in December 2021.

General Lamin Bojang was speaking exclusively to The Fatu Network immediately after completing his nomination process at Election House.

“Am overwhelmed and am happy, we believe we have fulfilled the requirements and we are not scared. We want to bring sanity into the politics of the Gambia. Agriculture, health, education and security are in the hands of foreigners and our nation’s sovereignty is at stake,” General Lamin Bojang said.

He further noted that the ANRD wishes to change the dynamics and the status quo.

“We lack leadership in the Gambia. We want to replace the poor leadership with a leadership that is responsible and creative,” he said.

He further revealed that the country’s health institutions have collapsed, promising to introduce medical insurance which will seek to help Gambians access good health facilities.

When asked about how he was going to get the resources to achieve all his promises he replied by saying that the Gambia is a sovereign state and people pay takes.

“We are going to get money through agriculture, also all countries have development partners. We shall fight poverty and corruption,” he said.

When asked about a possible coalition he said the ANDR has never wished to form a merger because as presidential candidate for the party he knows he has done something for the country.

Clarifying rumours which suggest he did not submit all his documents General Bojang revealed that he submitted all his documents, but the IEC asked him to bring photocopies instead of originals. That he said he promised to bring (the photocopies) the following day.

General Lamin Bojang attended the Brufut Primary School, where he took the Common Entrance Examination and was admitted at Saint Peter’s High School. He later went on and enlisted into the School of Nursing and Midwifery [Gambia College], at the time that was the highest learning institution in the country.

He graduated as a State Registered Nurse (SRN) and after a few years of practice, I did a higher course in midwifery.

In 1994 he quit the health job and enlisted in the military. In the military, he was the head of the military reception services but at some point, he moved from medical to infantry. He served the army until his retirement in 2012.

The Gambian Rasta Presidential Candidate Bankole Ahadzie popularly known as Banky has officially presented his nomination to the country’s Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).

Speaking shortly to pressmen after his nomination exercise Banky said he had taken a covid-19 test and the results were not out, therefore he could not grant interviews.

“I have taken a COVID-19 test just yesterday and the results are not out. Therefore, I do not want to endanger the lives of members of the public by taking interviews,”

He however promised to take interviews at a later date.

Bankole Yao Jojo Ahadzie (Banky) is a 43-year-old Internet Engineer born in 1977 at Westfield Clinic and lived in the capital city Banjul. He attended Methodist Nursery School, Marina School and then Gambia High in 1994 where he took his O Levels and in 1996 took his A-Levels.

In 2002, he got a scholarship from the MRC to study internet engineering in the UK. He returned home in 2005.

In previous interviews, Banky had called on the Gambian government to move towards legalizing weed as other African nations are already making billions from weed exportation.

“Don’t judge me by my appearance, don’t judge me by my hairstyle, listen to what my manifesto is and how I can change lives when elected.” Banky would usually say

Banky’s vision to run for president is anchored on five cardinal pillars, including free education, one-term presidency, creating jobs with decent salaries, development by us for us, and the empowerment of 1 billion Gambian dalasis ($20million) fund in sports.

A deal signed by chieftains of UDP and GFA says the latter has accepted to desist from sponsoring a candidate to contest the said elections but to instead endorse the candidate sponsored by the UDP.

Party chiefs of the two parties met on Saturday to signed a Memorandum of Understanding.

In the context of the said memorandum, it’s stated Gambia For All would accept to desist from sponsoring a candidate to contest the said elections, but to instead endorse the candidate sponsored by the UDP.

“Within the framework of the stated Memorandum, the UDP and GFA commit to work together and vigorously campaign for the victory of the UDP candidate who, for the purpose of the said election effectively becomes the candidate of both parties. To that end, the parties agree to form a dedicated ad hoc team for coordinating plans and field operations,” the MoU said.

It said elsewhere: “That in the same spirit of the Memorandum, UDP and GFA agree, that in the event of electoral victory, to participate effectively in any government set up which of necessity shall be inclusive, without prejudice to the exercise of the prerogatives accruing by law to the President or other appointing authorities.

“That in the spirit of the MoU, the parties agree to share and respect the fundamental values and principles of generally accepted norms of good governance.

“In line with the strategy of maximising the chances for victory, the two parties agree to maintain an open-door policy for other likeminded parties and other political forces who may wish to collaborate with the two parties as per the provisions of this agreement.”