Four
African Presidents are in Banjul to prevail on President Yahya Jammeh
to willingly accept Gambia's 2016 Presidential election result and step
down.
President Muhammadu Buhari (M) Pres. Bai Koroma (Right) & Pres Ellen Sirleaf Johnson (Left) in Banjul
Following the thoughtless decision of Gambian President Yayha
Jammeh to make a U-turn after conceding defeat to ask for cancellation
of the Presidential election in which he was defeated by Adama Barrow, a
high-level UN/AU/ECOWAS Joint delegation comprising President Muhammadu
Buhari of Nigeria, John Mahama of Ghana, Ellen Sirleaf Johnson of
Liberia, President of of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma and others have
arrived Gambia to persuade Jammeh to step down and accept the result of
the election.
According to reports, Jammeh is seeking a power-sharing deal so as
to protect his business interests & supporters. However, the people
of Gambia have rejected the deal as Barrow called on Jammeh to step
down.
The delegation arrived Tuesday afternoon at Banjul. Jammeh has been
warned earlier of impending chaos should he insist on not accepting the
result of the election by the UN, AU and ECOWAS.
See photos of the delegation below and a press release by Femi
Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity:
"President Muhammadu Buhari arrived Banjul, The Gambia this
morning to meet with the country's President, Yahya Jammeh, who lost the
presidential election penultimate week.
The Nigerian leader, who arrived together with President Ellen
Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia, who is the current Chairperson of the
Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, and President
Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra-Leone, were received at the airport by
Gambia's Vice-President, Isatou Njie-Saidy.
The out-going President of Ghana, John Mahama, who had earlier
arrived Banjul, will join the other West African leaders to meet
President Jammeh at the CoCo Ocean Resort and Spa, Banjul.
President Jammeh had earlier conceded defeat in the election,
after a 22-year rule, but recanted a week later, asking for fresh polls
to be conducted by a "god-fearing and independent electoral commission."
President Buhari and the ECOWAS leaders will discuss the
ensuing impasse in The Gambia with President Jammeh, and insist on the
sanctity of the electoral process, and respect for the wishes of the
people.
They would also ask their host to respect the Constitution of
his own country, and maintain the inviolability of an electoral process
that had been concluded, and in which he had admitted defeat, and
congratulated his main challenger.
The leaders are also scheduled to meet the President-elect, Adama Barrow.
President Buhari is expected back in Abuja later today."
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