Written by Pa Malick Faye     Monday, 05 June 2006

APRC bigwigs, Yankuba Touray, Secretary of State for Agriculture and APRC
national mobiliser, and Hon Fatoumatta Jahumpa Ceesay, have reacted coolly
to the decision of the Independent Electoral Commission to bring forward the
presidential election to September, instead of the original October date.

In an interview with the Daily Observer, SoS Touray said the APRC is ready
to take part in any election that is in conformity with the laws of The
Gambia as it has always been an obedient partner in the country's body
politic. According to him, the APRC will cooperate fully with the
IEC(Independent Electoral Commission) and conduct its politics in the spirit
of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between political parties in
the country.  He predicted a landslide victory for President Jammeh and the
APRC. "We will achieve it [a landslide] because of our strategies."

On whether holding election in September will not affect the farming
community as it falls in the rainy season and farmers form majority of the
voting population, SoS Touray replied: "The IEC must have done their
homework before coming up with the date.  I don't think it will be a
problem, as in 1996  election was done at the same time."

For her part, Mrs Fatoumata Jahumpa Ceesay, a nominated member of the
National Assembly, echoed SoS Touray's remarks.  According to her, the IEC
has acted constitutionally, as Section 46 part 3 of the Constitution gives
the IEC the power to do so.

"We all know that October will fall in the Muslims' Holy Month of Ramadan
and The Gambia being a predominantly Muslim country, it will be difficult to
hold an election in the Ramadan," she said.

FJC, who sounds upbeat, said President Jammeh is marketable to the Gambian
electorate, as he has fulfilled most of his promises to the electorate.
"There will be no foul play and all the players should accept the outcome of
the election. This is a simple fight, as the ant cannot stop the elephant
from passing," she emphasised.

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