Seedy Ceesay has promised voters in West Coast Region of an “inclusive and development-driven council” under his leadership after a contentious run off with Ahmed Gitteh to contest under the ruling National People’s Party for Brikama Area Council chairmanship.

Mr Gitteh had walked out of the election hall saying he was robbed after his winning vote was declared invalid. 

However, following the vote counting, NPP’s first deputy national president and minister of agriculture Demba Sabally declared Seedy Ceesay as the winner with 46 votes while Ahmed Gitteh got 22 votes out of 68 votes.

Meanwhile, speaking for the first time since his winning bid to contest under NPP ticket, Ceesay told reporters: “as chairman of Brikama Area Council, I’ll create a platform where all groups will be represented in discussing issues that affect our local government area.

“We will work together with all stakeholders to create an equitable society embedded in the creed that no one should be left behind. It doesn’t make economic sense, and it is morally unacceptable.”

The former QTV programme anchor continued: “My chairmanship of Brikama Area Council will be characterised by delivery for everyone. As a council our resources are limited, but this is where I am called upon to be resourceful.

“We will look for support from a mixture of private, voluntary and public sector funders, working collaboratively with them, to expand opportunity to youth, women, and groups that have been neglected for too long.”

Reporting by Adama Makasuba