QUESTION OF THE DAY
DOES THE OPPOSITION HAVE ONE CANDIDATE FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN 2016?
Foroyaa is aware of five opposition presidential candidates who have made their candidature public. The PDOIS held a convention on 19 March 2016 to declare Halifa Sallah its presidential candidate. The NCP followed and declared Dr Lamin Bojang as its presidential candidate on 18 June 2016. The GDC also declared Mama Kandeh as its presidential candidate on 25 May 2016. The UDP also declared Adama Barrow as its presidential candidate on 1 September 2016. Dr Isatou Touray was also declared a presidential candidate on 2 September 2016. If the NRP declares its presidential candidate the opposition would have six presidential candidates.
The electorates who want change are calling for discussion among the opposition to come up with one candidate. So far PDOIS has proposed a primary where the five thousand nominators required by the constitution for a presidential candidate would be combined and asked to vote for one presidential candidate to stand as flag bearer. The UDP has as its first option the endorsement of its candidate on the basis that it is the major opposition party. The NCP has not proposed a method of selecting one candidate but would want a transition of three months for any flag bearer. The GDC has not proposed how to select a presidential candidate. Dr Isatou Touray proposes for opposition parties to endorse her candidature. No party has announced that there is any shift in their position at the moment.
The electorate expects that negotiation will unfold between the different presidential candidates and parties which selected them in due course. This is how matters stand.
