Halifa Sallah failed in his bid to reintroduce the Draft Constitution Bill to Parliament after the Deputy Speaker rejected the motion.

The National Assembly for Serrekunda submitted a motion calling on parliamentarians to reconsider the Constitution Promulgation Bill 2020. 

“In the spirit of unlocking the potential in all National Assembly members to rise up to any occasion aimed at upholding and defending the viability and integrity of the Assembly and the supreme interest of The Gambia our home land, I move with all the solemnity and humility I could muster that this august National Assembly rescinds its decision of 22nd September 2020 to reject the second reading of the Bill Entitled “The Constitution of The Republic the Gambia 2020(Promulgation Bill, 2020,” Mr Sallah told the Assembly.

Mr Sallah said the National Assembly was better placed to bring back the Bill due to the legal constraints on the government if they were to resubmit it. 

He said that if the lawmaker rescinded their earlier decision they would have the chance to discuss the Bill and work towards a consensus in the national interest.

However the Deputy Speaker Momodou LK Sanneh, who stood in for the Speaker during the sitting, rejected the motion.

Mr Sanneh said Mr Sallah has failed to state the urgency of the motion.

He said that the Bill was “dead” and that there was ongoing process by the government to reintroduce it. 

The National Assembly rejected the draft constitution Bill in September after 23 pro-Barrow MPs voted against it proceeding to the second reading stage. 

Gambians reacted with anger as the new draft constitution, which took two years of public consultations, was one of the key promises of the coalition government that took over from ex-president Jammeh.