The Gambia is a country which has never changed through the ballot box and no one has empirical evidence to indicate how that change could be effected. Many efforts have been made on Coalition Building but the change is yet to come into being.
In many countries commitment shown by opposition parties and ruling parties to entrench democracy has compelled them to introduce the absolute majority principle which prevents any presidential candidate from being elected in the first ballot unless he/she has 50% of the valid votes cast. This was the case under the Gambian Constitution until
Section 48 was amended. As a result many Gambians have been calling for Political Parties to put aside party consideration and work out a transitional coalition agenda that will enable the Gambian people to take charge of the country by having the capacity to elect and remove governments without any difficulty. The fact that an agreement has been reached for a presidential candidate to be elected at a Convention who will stand as an Independent Candidate restores hope in the opposition and the future of the country.
A new Gambia is indeed in the making. FOROYAA will continue to bring you the detail of this unfolding scenario.
