Following their declaration by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) as duly elected members of the National Assembly,the new legislators have reacted to the outcome of the polls.

Gambians went to the polls on Thursday, 29th March to elect National Assembly members contesting in 23 constituencies across the country. The ruling Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC) party swept 18 constituencies, the independent secured four, whilst the opposition National Reconciliation Party got only one.

Banjul

Reacting in Banjul during an interview with the Daily Observer, the NAM-elect for Banjul Central Constituency, Abdoulie Saine of the APRC thanked the electorate for renewing his mandate, while pledging to work closely with them during his term as their representative in the parliament.

Also reacting, the NAM-elect of Banjul South, Baboucarr S. Nyang, who said his people voted for development, thanked them for the trust and confidence reposed on him, allowing him to represent them in the Assembly for the second time.

Jeshwang

The NAM-elect in Jeshwang Constituency, Haddy Nyang-Jagne equally commended the electoratefor her renewed mandate, whilst using the opportunity to thank the APRC party leader, President Jammeh for choosing her to stand under the APRC banner. She pledged her unwavering commitment to continue the work she started for more developments.

Bakau

In Bakau, where celebrations gripped the coastal town after the results were announced in favour of Kalifa Jammeh, the Daily Observer caught up with the man himself, who was elected for a third consecutive time.

Jammeh thanked the people of Bakau for making what he called a wise decision in voting him for the third time. He said that the victory was not a surprise to him as he was a more credible candidate than his opponent. “My victory did not surprise me at all because I knew since the beginning that I am more credible than my opponent,” he said.

WCR

Speaking to the Daily Observer in his Brikama resident, the independent candidate who won the Kombo Central seat, Buba Ayi Sanneh thanked his supporters for voting him into the Assembly.

Sanneh, who once worked under the United Nations Office in Dakar has promised to work extra hard to tackle majority of the needs of the people of the constituency. He was quick to highlight that he will pursue development issues; such as the availability of better road facilities, street lights, water supply, and better healthcare delivery for the constituency.

“I am deeply honoured for the trust and confidence my people bestowed in me to represent them in the National Assembly. I am sure that I am the qualified person to efficiently represent the people of Kombo Central in the National Assembly and that is why I became a [choice] in the constituency,” he stated.

Cognizant of the important role of being a legislator and the huge task attached to it, Sanneh said with this sea of trust and confidence reposed in him, he will do his utmost best to selflessly represent the people of Kombo Central in the Assembly.

Basse

The victorious independent candidate for Basse Constituency, Muhammed Magassy said he dedicates his victory tothose who voted for him. Speaking to this reporter in a telephone interview from his native village of Sabishortly after the pronouncement of the results, Magassy, who ousted the APRC strongman, said his victory would not have been possible without his supporters who turned out in numbers to vote for him. “All the credits go to them because they have made their choice and that is me,” he said.

He promised to represent his people fully at the National Assembly, while emphasising that he will always consult and dialogue with them to know their problems and concerns for possible solution at the Assembly. He finally commended the Daily Observer for what he called “fair reporting” for both contenders throughout the whole electoral process, which has made the whole world to know him.

NBR

Reacting in the North Bank Region (NBR), the NAM-elect for Sabach Sanjal Constituency, Ousman Bah, expressed gratitude to his people including the area’s campaign committee for the trust and confidence reposed in him. He pledged his commitment to stand for their development needs during his term in the Assembly.

Thedefeated NRP candidate, Ousman Touray said even though he accepted the verdict in good faith, he will continue to try his chance in the future elections. “In fact I called Ousman Bah on phone to congratulate him but was unreachable,” he concluded.

The NAM-elect in Lower Baddibu, Abdoulie Suku Singhateh, equally expressed gratitude to his people for renewing his mandate for the fourth consecutive time. He commended his supporters for fulfilling their promise by putting him in the National Assembly for another five-year term.

For Sheriff Misba Hydara of Lower Niumi, who won under APRC ticket, saidhis election into the National Assembly is as a result of the confidence reposed in him by the people of the constituency. “I am ready to work for them for the development of Lower Niumi,” he stated.

LRR

In the Lower River Region where thousands of jubilant supporters of APRC stormed the streets in Jarra Soma and elsewhere in the regionto celebrate the victory of three of their candidates in Jarra West, East and Kiang Central Constituencies respectively, the Daily Observer caught up with all the three candidates.

First to react was Bafaye Saidykhan of Jarra East. He admitted that the race to the National Assembly was“very tough”, but praised the Almighty Allah for another opportunity to serve the people of his constituency. He went on to thank the people of his constituency for the support, while appealing to his people to bury their political differences and work together as one people for the development of the area.

Jarra West’s Njie Darboe also thanked the APRC supporters for renewing his mandate to serve them again in the National Assembly. He went on to describe his victory as not surprising, saying “the people of Jarra West Constituency are conscious of the fact that their interest and development is with the ruling APRC party.”

The new face of Kiang Central in the National Assembly, Bubacarr S. Fadera, who defeated Babanding K.K Daffeh, an independent candidate, said his priorities amongst others will include reconciling the people of his constituency. He stressed the need for them to unite and work for their own interest so as to pave the way forward.

He assured the people of his constituency that he will serve their interest in the Assembly, while stating that he belongs to a party that has the interest of Gambians at heart. He concluded by thanking the people of Kiang Central for the support they manifested at the polls.

CRR

Shortly after the counting of votes in Janjangbureh, the NAM-elect for the constituency, Foday Jibani Manka, commended the electorate for putting him in the National Assembly once again. He noted that his re-election was not a surprise to him as the people of the area have benefited a lot from the mammoth development registered in the region. He further called on the people of Janjangbureh to forget about their political differences and unite in the interest of development.