The Bundung High Court has struck out a case against the government over its appointment of governors and their deputies. 

The case was brought by the main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP). 

Earlier this year, a UDP five-member team filed a case at the court against the manner governors and their deputies were appointed. They wanted the court to make a declaration that their appointments were “unlawful” and “therefore null and void”.

They relied on sections 123, 124 and 125 of the Local Government Act. It is their case that anyone to be appointed as a governor or a deputy governor must come from the civil service.

After three months of legal battle, presiding judge Justice Isatou Jallow-Sey on Friday 

(19 July) struck out the case after UDP failed to appear in court.

The court found them wanting for not pursuing their case diligently. The UDP members and their lawyers were all absent. They did not also advance reasons for their absence.

She said the case was scheduled to resume on July 19, 2024, at 11:00 am. The court waited until 11:45 to accommodate them. Despite the delay in the start of the case, the UDP members and their lawyers did not show up.

“I hereby struck out the case,” she ruled.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba