Essa Dampha, one of the founders of the ruling National People’s Party, has criticised critics of Barrow’s bid to seek third-term in office.

President Adama Barrow has announced that he will seek a third term in office. But some Gambians have been asking him to step down after two-term in office, insisting that he is not up to the job.

However, Dampha said:”this country is not an anarchy. The country is ruled by laws and those laws should be upheld. Nobody has the power or control to stop anybody from contesting, including the incumbent president Barrow, to bid for another term. There is no restriction as far as the current constitution is concerned.”

He described their arguments as “baseless,  malicious, and simply based on misleading the masses”.

”As much as people want you to govern, then you are mandated to seek re-election either 1st, 2nd or 3rd terms. It depends on the Gambian people to renew your mandate or to vote you out and give their mandate to someone else. My response is very clear, I don’t think they are fair to the president,” he added.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba