The Supreme Court of The Gambia has on Tuesday ruled to dismiss the United Democratic Party (UDP) request to discharge the party’s erstwhile member from his current position as Chairman of the Brikama Area Council.
Prior to its recourse at the Supreme Court, UDP expelled Sheriff Sonko last year. The party also got rid of two other councilors in the West Coast Region on the grounds that the trio was ‘non-compliant’ with the party’s internal discipline.
Lawyer Ousainou Darboe’s party then moved to obtain that Sheriff Sonko be stripped of his position as chairman of the Brikama Area Council’s chairman.
UDP resorted to compelling the Independent Electoral Commission to call a by-election and have a replacement to the sacked Sheriffo Sonko. After months of pressure, the party placed a legal recourse at the high court. But granting the much expected by-election demand became soon the business of the Supreme Court as the High Court sought arbitration from the highest jurisdiction of the country.
This Thursday, the Supreme court ruled that contrary to the arguments of UDP, Sheriff Sonko did not “automatically” lose his position as Brikama Area Council’s chairman, though he was sacked by UDP.
The ruling now comforts Sheriff Sonko in his refusal to quit.