Harare, Zimbabwe (News of the South)-Gambians hold their first legislative elections this Thursday since the ousting of former President Yahya Jammeh who lost to a coalition of opposition parties after 22 years in power.
After the breaking up of the winning coalition that ushered Adama Barrow into power, legislative elections are set to begin today with a variety of political parties expected to win seats in parliament.
More than 880 000 Gambians are eligible to vote, with polls opening from 8:00 to 5:00pm.
Results are expected during then evening and a full set due by late morning on Friday.
According to France24 nine political parties will contest including Jammeh’s Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (ARPC) and the strongest traditional opposition party, the United Democratic Party (UDP).
“They face a significant threat from the Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC), a youth led party which did not join the governing coalition, and whose leader Mama Kandeh came third in the poll”.
“The atmosphere here in Banjul, the capital of Gambia, is calm and peaceful going into the parliamentary polls, a stark contrast to the worries that surrounded the presidential election a few months ago”, it said.
There are 53 seats being contested for in the National Assembly which is five more than in 2012 according to the Electoral Commission (IEC).
“Five extra places are appointed by the president to give a total of 58 seats in the legislative chamber.
A variety of observers from ECOWAS, the African Union and the European Union are monitoring the elections.
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