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Gambian opposition leader quits party to lead coalition in election

Gambian opposition leader quits party to lead coalition in election

Gambia

The Gambian opposition coalition candidate elected to stand against President Yahya Jammeh in the December 1 presidential election has resigned from his party to better lead the group.

51-year-old Adama Barrow announced his resignation on Tuesday from his United Democratic Party (UDP), which is part of the seven party opposition coalition that elected him in October.

“As the flag bearer of the opposition coalition, I wish to inform you that I will present myself as an independent candidate,” Barrow wrote in a letter addressed to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).

Adama Barrow has filed his application and is expected to be approved on Wednesday to face President Yahya Jammeh, who has until Thursday to formalize his application with the IEC.

The IEC has already received the application of Mama Kandeh, a former member of the president’s party Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC).

He was expelled in April 2013 from the APRC for reasons not clearly explained.

The presidential campaign is expected to start on November 16 and the vote on December 1, 2016.

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