I have gotten a confirmation of this press release.  The part Secretariat
has sent this press release for distribution to the entire world:

PRESS RELEASE

Rumours have been rife in the last twenty four hours that the APRC regime,
having realised that it has totally lost ground following its presidential
candidates unsuccessful campaign, has come up with the crazy idea of
fabricating an attempted coup d’etat and this way declare a state of
emergency and arrest opposition politicians.

The UDP/ PPP/ GPP coalition wishes to declare to the whole world that
these rumours, if they are not unfounded, show the state of desperation
that the APRC has reached in its existence as a party and as a government.
Now that the Gambia people have shown clearly its rejection of Yaya
Jammeh, his regime and his politics, the APRC is now trying desperately,
like a drowning man, to clutch straws. These rumours are the latest in a
series of vain attempts to silence the opposition particularly the UDP/
PPP/ GPP coalition.

A few days ago the coalition flag bearer’s campaign convoy was not allowed
to use the ferry at Basse, the pretext being that it had a breakdown. This
was a lame excuse to deny Ousainou Darboe and his campaign entourage
access to the northern party of the Upper River Division. Such acts just
demonstrate how desperate the APRC has become in light of their lack
lustre campaign and the low turn out at their rallies.

Another rumour that shows the vain attempt to boast their waning fortunes
in the mass registration of persons from Cassamance now that registration
has been closed and the final register has been compiled. The Chairman of
the Independent Electoral Commission Mr. Gabriel Roberts had informed a
UDP delegation that the IEC has decided that any person in possession of
a “valid” voters card will be allowed to vote. This statement is not
helpful in dispelling these rumours. To the contrary it will further
heighten the concern that the Coalition has for the forthcoming election
to be free and fair.

After a highly successful countrywide campaign, we are sure that the
Gambian electorate is going to massively vote against the APRC. We
therefore do not need to be involved in any act that has the slightest
anti democratic tendency. The nature of our party leadership and our past
record on non violence indicate that we will never be involved in any
attempt to take over the country by any means other than the ballot box.

We have espoused democracy and we have operated by its principles. We
therefore reject all attempts rumoured or real to tarnish the image of the
Coalition aimed at finding a pretext to disrupt the present election
process which, with the exception of some APRC initiated scuffles, has
been going on in an orderly manner. This process should be allowed to
continue to enable Gambian people to choose their President without
intimidation and under influence

There is barely on week to go before the polls and no sane person,
particularly one who is confident of winning, would want to disrupt the
elections for any reason. The UDP/PPP/GPP Coalition calls on all Gambians
to resist all attempts to hijack their right to choose their own President.

 Long live the UDP Coalition
 Long live the democracy
 Long live the Gambia.

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