'NRP Too Is Out Of Opposition Coalition'
by Ebrima Colley
Reports have it that the National Reconciliation Party (NRP) has also opted
out of the opposition coalition against the ruling APRC for the forthcoming
elections. This was disclosed to the Daily Observer by the party's deputy
leader and National Assembly Member for Kiang Central, Honourable Musa
Njadoe on Tuesday morning at the party's bureau in Banjul. According to
Honourable Njadoe, NRP had never been informed that an inter-party meeting
would be held at the YMCA building on Monday, August 13 by the opposition
parties. He said he met Mr Omar A Jallow (OJ) the week before in Banjul who
informed him that such a meeting was to be held at the Independence Stadium
but because of the absence of the NRP leader, Hamat Bah, it would be
postponed till further notice. "I am just hearing that they have had the
meeting finally. I do not know what topic they raised at the meeting," Mr
Njadoe added that the NRP had not been informed of such a meeting. " The NRP
is not ready for a coalition right now.
The reason is that this coalition cannot remove APRC from power because any
leader heading the coalition would have a section from the opposition voters
who would not be ready to vote for him," Mr Njadoe asserted. He however said
the NRP had not objected to Lawyer Ousainou Darboe's presidential
candidature for the coalition. The NRP, Mr Njadoe further stated, would be
ready for a coalition that would come after the first round of presidential
polls if no candidate succeeded in securing an absolute majority. He quoted
section 45 (3) of the constitution that stated that, "no person shall be
elected as a president on a first ballot unless the votes cast in his/her
favour at an election are more than 50 per cent of the total number of votes
validly cast in that election." He said the NRP would not mind whoever led a
possible coalition in the event of a second round. Mr Njadoe argued that the
opposition should have waited for the first round of the presidential
election to end and then form a coalition, "so that it would be easier to
convince Gambians to vote for the coalition party in the second round."
Meanwhile, the leader of NRP, Mr Hamat Bah, according to Mr Njadoe, had
travelled overseas and was expected home yesterday.
by Ebrima Colley
Reports have it that the National Reconciliation Party (NRP) has also opted
out of the opposition coalition against the ruling APRC for the forthcoming
elections. This was disclosed to the Daily Observer by the party's deputy
leader and National Assembly Member for Kiang Central, Honourable Musa
Njadoe on Tuesday morning at the party's bureau in Banjul. According to
Honourable Njadoe, NRP had never been informed that an inter-party meeting
would be held at the YMCA building on Monday, August 13 by the opposition
parties. He said he met Mr Omar A Jallow (OJ) the week before in Banjul who
informed him that such a meeting was to be held at the Independence Stadium
but because of the absence of the NRP leader, Hamat Bah, it would be
postponed till further notice. "I am just hearing that they have had the
meeting finally. I do not know what topic they raised at the meeting," Mr
Njadoe added that the NRP had not been informed of such a meeting. " The NRP
is not ready for a coalition right now.
The reason is that this coalition cannot remove APRC from power because any
leader heading the coalition would have a section from the opposition voters
who would not be ready to vote for him," Mr Njadoe asserted. He however said
the NRP had not objected to Lawyer Ousainou Darboe's presidential
candidature for the coalition. The NRP, Mr Njadoe further stated, would be
ready for a coalition that would come after the first round of presidential
polls if no candidate succeeded in securing an absolute majority. He quoted
section 45 (3) of the constitution that stated that, "no person shall be
elected as a president on a first ballot unless the votes cast in his/her
favour at an election are more than 50 per cent of the total number of votes
validly cast in that election." He said the NRP would not mind whoever led a
possible coalition in the event of a second round. Mr Njadoe argued that the
opposition should have waited for the first round of the presidential
election to end and then form a coalition, "so that it would be easier to
convince Gambians to vote for the coalition party in the second round."
Meanwhile, the leader of NRP, Mr Hamat Bah, according to Mr Njadoe, had
travelled overseas and was expected home yesterday.
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