Some UDP supporters claiming to be pro-democracy activists are planning to storm the National Assembly premises today to wage a protest march in the event the draft constitution is rejected by Parliament, a Gambian law enforcement officer, has revealed. The security officer said they have received an intelligence of what he called a potential protest march to be held today in Banjul and its surrounding areas.
“We have received intelligence that some UDP supporters purporting or claiming to be pro-democracy activists are planning to organize a protest march today. They have also been calling and harassing MPs, they want the MPs to vote in favor of the draft constitution,” said the security officer.
MPS are expected to vote on the draft constitution today. Observers say it doesn’t look like that a three quarter vote could be secured to facilitate the passage of the bill.
If the proposed bill is rejected, it would plunge the impoverished West African nation into constitutional crisis.
The leader of the main opposition United Democratic Party Ousainou Darboe yesterday spent about an hour on Facebook appealing to MPS to pass the bill. He was almost in tears during his live video.
The GMC leader Mai Ahmed Fatty was also in tears during a Facebook live video. He has also called on the MPS to pass the bill.
Fatty has declared that they will not allow anyone to derail what he called Gambia’s well fought democracy. “We are ready to fight,” he said, as he warned those who are in opposition of the draft constitution.
He maintains that President Barrow hasn’t brought change in The Gambia, adding that the political change was possible because of a national combined effort.
Sources said security would be beefed up around Parliament today.
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