NADD Independent Candidacy Reaches 20
The Point
Thursday 4th December  2006
By Baboucarr Senghore & Awa Bojang

As the run-up to the National Assembly elections heats up, the number of  
independent candidates applying for Nadd support to contest has reached 20 even  
as more applications stream in.

Confirming this development to this reporter in an exclusive interview  
yesterday, Hon. Halifa Sallah, the flag bearer of the NADD, said: “So far we  have 
20 applying for NADD support in terms of independent candidates and seven  
constituencies applying concretely to stand for Nadd. This is a process.  
Cross-reading is still going on and people are still debating until the final  stage 
as they are still working on the ground filling their nomination  papers.”
Quizzed on whether or not any discussions with the opposition  UDP/NRP/GPDP 
alliance have taken place, Hon. Sallah said there could be no  discussions 
because Nadd’s call for a tactical alliance has not been  acknowledged or matched 
by the UDP. He posited that had that been the case,  arrangements could have 
been made for both parties to meet. But, he lamented,  since the UDP announced 
their resolve to put up candidates everywhere, they have  little choice.
“We are diplomats and we are mature in wider institutions. So  that is why we 
did not contact them but decided to create a tactical alliance,  independent 
on our own,” he added.

Commenting on his chances in his own constituency, the Nadd flag bearer and  
member for Serrekunda Central said every body has the right to stand against 
him  in seeking the mandate of the people. “For me I believe in a multi-party 
system.  I am contesting against my opponents. I am seeking the mandate of the 
people and  I believe I have the capacity. If the people of Serrekunda Central 
wish to  exchange me for somebody else, its there prerogative but I believe 
that I have  delivered and I have acquired the necessary lessons to represent 
them not only  in The Gambia but internationally.”

Hon. Sallah further indicated that Nadd has been very circumspect in their  
selection of candidates, citing Jarra West as an example. There, according to  
him, Nadd has considered not to put up a candidate. He also added that they 
are  withholding any consideration discouraging any body who wants to stand 
there  because “we are assuming that the person who was the National Assembly 
Member  before would still be standing as candidate.”
 

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