QUESTION OF THE DAY
IS IT CERTAIN THAT GAMBIA IS NOW LEFT WITH A THREE CONTESTANTS’ RACE FOR THE PRESIDENCY IN 2016?
It is true that the incumbent, Adama Barrow and Mamma Kandeh have filed their nomination papers and are now accepted as presidential candidates. However, section 51 of the Elections Act provides for the possibility of withdrawal of candidature.
Section 51 states: Withdrawal of candidature
(1) A candidate may withdraw from his or her candidature by notice in writing signed by him or her and delivered by himself or herself to one of the persons nominating him or her to the returning officer not later than 4 o’clock in the afternoon of the seventh day before the date of election, or where the election is held over a period of days, before the first day of that period.”
Hence it is possible for new surprises to come before the 1 December 2016 presidential election.
