ADVERTISEMENT
  • The Membership Club
  • PT Hausa
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
Saturday, April 10, 2021
Premium Times Nigeria
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
Premium Times Nigeria
BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
Jammeh: Regional civil society group calls on Gambians to embark on civil disobedience

Yahya Jammeh
Photo credit: News Africa

Jammeh: Regional civil society group calls on Gambians to embark on civil disobedience

byNicholas Ibekwe
January 19, 2017
3 min read

The West African Civil Society Forum, WACSOF, has expressed concern over the intention of outgoing leader of The Gambia, Yahya Jammeh, to plunge the country into disarray over his refusal to step down from office having been defeated in the December 1, 2016 presidential election by the opposition candidate, Adama Barrow.

In a statement delivered at a press conference at its secretariat in Abuja, WACSOF acting secretary general, Auwal Musa, called on the international community to make sure Mr. Jammeh respects the wish of the people of The Gambia and hand over to Mr. Barrow.

WACSOF, therefore, called on Gambians “to embark on a peaceful civil disobedience against President Jammeh’s regime until it relinquishes power.”

The forum pointed out that Mr. Jammeh had led a repressive government since he seized power through a military coup 22 years ago.

According to the forum, members of the country’s opposition and other dissidents had been hounded through torture, arbitrariness, enforced disappearances, and summary executions in order to maintain Mr. Jammeh’s grip on power.

WACSOF stated that these tactics were used to intimidate members of the opposition ahead of the December 1, 2016 election.

“The government’s crackdown began with an arrest of over 90 opposition activists, including those arrested with the prominent UDP activist, Solo Sandeng, for participating in largely peaceful protests. Courts convicted 39 opposition members and sentenced them to three-year terms, including UDP leader, Ousainou Darboe, and many of the UDP leadership. Jammeh has also repeatedly threatened opposition parties.

“The abuses committed since April 2016, as well as Jammeh’s repeated threats, intimidation and killings of the opposition and supporters, as well as the Civil Society and journalists, and his domination of state media have reinforced a climate of fear among many opposition politicians and activists that severely limits their ability to criticize and hold Jammeh and his government to account.

“International human rights law provides important protections that the Jammeh government has frequently violated, including the rights to security of person, to a fair trial, and to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly. Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Gambia has ratified, guarantees the right of every citizen to take part in the conduct of public affairs, the right to vote and to be elected and the right to have access to public service.

RelatedNews

VIDEO: How Alkali was selected as new IGP – Dingyadi

Presidency attacks Bishop Kukah over critical Easter message

Nigerian civil society leader, Innocent Chukwuma, is dead

APC charges Nigerians to pray for leaders at Easter

“In 2001, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) adopted the Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance (ECOWAS Protocol), which includes specific provisions promoting democratic elections. The ECOWAS Protocol provides that political parties should ‘have the right to carry out their activities freely, within the limits of the law’ and ‘without hindrance or discrimination in any electoral process. The freedom of the opposition shall be guaranteed.’

“The Protocol also requires that all parties can meet and organize peaceful demonstrations in advance of elections while the armed forces and police shall be non-partisan and shall remain loyal to the nation.”

WACSOF stated that through its peace campaign, a peaceful and transparent election was held in the country. However, after initially accepting defeat, and congratulating Mr. Barrow, Mr. Jammeh unilaterally annulled the election.

Dangote adbanner 728x90_2 (1)

“WACSOF has been at the forefront in promoting tenure limit in the region to ensure peaceful, transparent, democratic and participatory election in West Africa. Incidentally, Yahya Jammeh has consistently refused to comply with this as well as the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.

“The continuous gross violation of the fundamental human rights of the Gambians by dictator Jammeh necessitated WACSOF to intensify a peaceful campaign for election in the Gambia.

“The election was conducted in the most peaceful and transparent process according to both local and international observers as well as by the Gambians themselves.

“Efforts have been ongoing to persuade the brutal dictator to comply with his earlier concession of defeat and to respect the will of the Gambians. The effort of the ECOWAS under the leadership of its Chairperson President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia together with President Muhammadu Buhari or Nigeria, President John Mahama of Ghana, and President Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone has not yielded results for a peaceful transfer of power.

“We also call on the Gambians to embark on a peaceful civil disobedience against the President Jammeh’s regime until it relinquishes power.

“We urge all CSOs and the Media all over the world to continue to solidarize with the people of the Gambia until their verdict as expressed in the December 1 presidential election is respected and the new president inaugurated.”

ADVERTISEMENT
  • WhatsApp
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print
  • Telegram
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Pocket

Support PREMIUM TIMES' journalism of integrity and credibility

Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.

For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.

By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.

Donate


TEXT AD: To advertise here . Call Willie +2347088095401...


JOIN THE CONVERSATION

  • Disqus (0)
premiumtimes



PT Mag Campaign AD

Previous Post

Labour Party drags Governor Amosun to court over road project‎s

Next Post

Gambia: President-elect Barrow to be inaugurated in Senegal

Nicholas Ibekwe

Nicholas Ibekwe

Nicholas Ibekwe is PREMIUM TIMES' Head of Investigations. He is a graduate of English Language from the Lagos State University. He has a Master's in International Journalism from City University, London, United Kingdom. Nicholas, who is 2016 fellow of the World Press Fellowship, has won several awards for his work including the Wole Soyinka Prize for Investigative Journalism, two-time finalist, FAIR( Forum for African Investigative Reporters) Award, and Chevening Scholarship. Twitter: @nicholasibekwe 

More News

Alibaba office

China hits Alibaba with $2.75 billion fine

April 10, 2021
A project that's billed to be commissioned on Thursday 19th July by Sen Dino Melaye has been burnt down by some hoodlums in Sarkin Noma, Lokoja, Kogi state. The two class room fully built and donated to Government Girls Secondary school Lokoja is one of senator Dino's constituency projects across kogi west senatorial district. This is the lowest form of politics we have seen in recent time. Credit: Abdulslimzy Maiyaki on Facebook

FG, UNICEF review 14-year-old policy to tackle gender matters, insecurity

April 10, 2021
PDP flags [PHOTO: @OfficialPDPNig]

PDP elects 23 officials in North-central zone

April 10, 2021
Sarkin Lere, Abubakar Mohammed,

Sarkin Lere, Abubakar Mohammed, is dead

April 10, 2021
Danladi-Umar-CCT-Chairman

Security guard assaulted by CCT chairman petitions human rights commission

April 10, 2021
Nigeria Market street [PHOTO CREDIT: Council on Foreign Relations]

Family facing ‘unprecedented threat’ in Nigeria, says public health expert

April 10, 2021
Next Post
Gambia: President-elect Barrow to be inaugurated in Senegal

Gambia: President-elect Barrow to be inaugurated in Senegal

Buhari tables proposal for rescuing Nigeria’s troubled economy

Buhari writes National Assembly, makes Osinbajo Acting President for third time

Discussion about this post

Search

#EndSARS: Latest Updates




Polaris Bank


JAIZ Ad


Access Bank Ad


NITDA Ad





Glo Ad

Subscribe to News via Email

Enter your email address and receive notifications of news by email.

Join 1,649,499 other subscribers.

Advertisement






netherland biz school Advert



Zenith Advert

ADVERTISEMENT

Our Digital Network

  • PT Hausa
  • Election Centre
  • Human Trafficking Investigation
  • Centre for Investigative Journalism
  • National Conference
  • Press Attack Tracker
  • PT Academy
  • Dubawa
  • LeaksNG
  • Campus Reporter

Resources

  • Oil & Gas Facts
  • List of Universities in Nigeria
  • LIST: Federal Unity Colleges in Nigeria
  • NYSC Orientation Camps in Nigeria
  • Nigeria’s Federal/States’ Budgets since 2005
  • Malabu Scandal Thread
  • World Cup 2018
  • Panama Papers Game
  • Our Digital Network
  • About Us
  • Resources
  • Projects
  • Data & Infographics
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • Parliament Watch
    • AGAHRIN
  • Opinion
  • PT Hausa
  • The Membership Club
  • Dubawa
    • Dubawa NG
  • About Us
    • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Digital Store
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

Our website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.