Ten days before the January 24 local government elections,  Yunus Gibba, an independent candidate for Kusamai Ward has withdrawn from the election race. Mr Gibba is the first independent candidate in this election to do so.

According to a press release issued by the Independent Electoral Commission, IEC,this is done in accordance the election Decree of 1996.Below we reproduce the full text issued by the country's electoral body.

"Mr Yunus Gibba, Independent candidate for the Kusamai Ward in the Local Government Elections of January 24th 2008 in accordance with Section 51 of Decree 78 of 1996, has withdrawn his candidature for the said elections.

The Returning Officer for the Brikama Administrative Area has duly completed, signed and accepted Mr Gibba's withdrawal which he (Mr Gibba) did in person at the IEC Regional Office in Brikama.

Therefore, there will not be any election in Kusamai Ward.

Today, Monday the 14th day of January 2008 is the last day for the withdrawal of candidature".the release concludes