Gambian parliamentary election, 2007
Encyclopedia
A parliamentary election was held in The Gambia
on 25 January 2007. Forty-eight members of the National Assembly
were elected, with another five being appointed by the President. 103 candidates had been approved by the Independent Electoral Commission, and only the ruling party, the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction
(APRC), contested all 48 seats. The APRC won 42 seats. Turnout was 41.7 per cent.
After the election, President Yahya Jammeh
said that "constituencies that voted the opposition should not expect my government's development projects. I want to teach people that opposition in Africa does not pay." He expressed satisfaction with the results and said that "voters have thrown out the two empty barrels from the National Assembly"; this was believed to be a reference to the defeat of two prominent opposition politicians, Halifa Sallah
and Hamat Bah
. Salleh blamed the opposition's poor performance in the election on a split in its ranks and said that he intended to retire from politics.
The Gambia
The Republic of The Gambia, commonly referred to as The Gambia, or Gambia , is a country in West Africa. Gambia is the smallest country on mainland Africa, surrounded by Senegal except for a short coastline on the Atlantic Ocean in the west....
on 25 January 2007. Forty-eight members of the National Assembly
National Assembly of the Gambia
The National Assembly is the legislative branch of government in The Gambia.- Composition and electoral system:The National Assembly is unicameral and consists of 53 members who serve a five-year term. 48 members are directly elected while the remaining five are appointed by the President...
were elected, with another five being appointed by the President. 103 candidates had been approved by the Independent Electoral Commission, and only the ruling party, the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction
Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction
The Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction is a political party in The Gambia, founded by army officers who staged a coup in 1994. It was formed in 1996 to support army leader Yahya Jammeh's campaign for the 1996 elections....
(APRC), contested all 48 seats. The APRC won 42 seats. Turnout was 41.7 per cent.
After the election, President Yahya Jammeh
Yahya Jammeh
Alhaji Dr. Yahya Abdul-Aziz Jemus Junkung Jammeh is the President of The Gambia...
said that "constituencies that voted the opposition should not expect my government's development projects. I want to teach people that opposition in Africa does not pay." He expressed satisfaction with the results and said that "voters have thrown out the two empty barrels from the National Assembly"; this was believed to be a reference to the defeat of two prominent opposition politicians, Halifa Sallah
Halifa Sallah
Halifa Sallah is a Gambian politician. He was the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly of The Gambia and a member of the Pan-African Parliament...
and Hamat Bah
Hamat Bah
Hamat Bah is a Gambian politician and leader of the National Reconciliation Party . Running as his party's presidential candidate in 2001, he placed third, winning 7.8% of the vote...
. Salleh blamed the opposition's poor performance in the election on a split in its ranks and said that he intended to retire from politics.