Over 869,000 registered before Gambia vote

More than 869,000 Gambians have registered to vote in their country’s presidential elections, set for November 24, which incumbent President Yahya Jammeh is confident he will win. Electoral officers at the Independent Electoral Commission told AFP that a total number of 869,600 people showed up in a six-week voter registration exercise which ended Friday. "We have successfully completed the registration of a total 869,600 eligible voters," an electoral officer said. Gambia's leader said last month he was sure to win the November elections in which he will seek a fourth term as president of the tiny west African country, adding they would be free and fair. Jammeh seized power in July 1994 in a bloodless coup. He has vowed not to engage his party in any electoral campaign as he was confident that he would be reelected while five opposition parties plan to take part in the election. Analysts have said they had no alternative but to unite to pose a credible challenge to Jammeh's ruling party. Opposition aspirants for the top job are Ousainou Darboe of the main opposition party, United Democratic Party (UDP); Halifa Sallah, a sociologist of the National Alliance for Democracy and Development (NADD); Henry Gomez, a Gambian businessman based in Germany; Hamat Bah, also a local businessman and longtime opposition leader; and Mai Ahmad Fatty, a lawyer currently in exile in the United States. Jammeh told reporters Thursday afternoon shortly after registering alongside First Lady Madam Zeinab Yahya Jammeh that his APRC party "will teach the opposition a lesson in the November 24th polls". "Gambians are very grateful people and they are development-oriented. We are going to teach the opposition a lesson. This coming election will be the final 40 days charity for the opposition in this country. "This will be the fourth election and so enough is enough. This time around it is very clear that if you vote against development; don’t expect development," Jammeh said. He said that in defending the resources and interests of Gambia, he did not mind what names detractors would call him. Jammeh enjoined all Gambians of voting age to not only register but to vote in the upcoming election saying it was their constitutional right to decide the future leadership of the country. "The power that you have is your voters’ card. So I think every Gambian of voting age should really come out and register. But it is not only good to have the voters’ card but also important for you to vote," he said.