(4 Dec 2021) The two main candidates in Gambia's presidential election cast their votes on Saturday, calling for people to participate in the process and urging free, fair and transparent elections.
Incumbent President Adama Barrow told reporters in Banjul that his supporters would be celebrating in the streets within 24 hours.
Barrow called on people to vote, and urged the Independent Electoral Commission to remain neutral.
"My advice to IEC (independent electoral commission) is that they should remain neutral, if they are neutral it makes it very easy for all of us, the players, and if they are neutral it makes it easy for people to accept the final results," said Barrow, who is running as candidate for the National People's Party.
Ousainou Darboe, the head of the opposition United Democratic Party and one of the main contenders in the election, voted in Fajara, a neighbourhood of Bakau, near the capital of the country.
Darboe, who is Barrow's former mentor, arrived at the polling station using a walker due to an injury.
He walked slowly among the crowd of journalists and supporters to cast his ballot.
"We believe that if the majority of the people cast their votes, the United Democratic Party will stand a good chance of winning. We are hopeful that the majority of the Gambians want the UDP, we are hopeful that the majority, and we know that the majority, of the Gambians want change," said Kemo Bojang, National Secretary General of UDP's Youth Wing
The polls that opened at 8.am. local time, will close at 5 p.m. in Africa's smallest country, where about one million voters were expected to cast their ballots.
The other candidates are Mama Kandeh of Gambia Democratic Congress; Halifa Sallah of People's Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism; Abdoulie Ebrima Jammeh of the National Unity Party; and Essa Mbye Faal, former lead counsel of Gambia's truth commission, who is running under an independent ticket.
They have all vowed to run under an agenda for change and a stronger economy in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic so fewer Gambians feel compelled to travel the dangerous migration route to Europe.
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