President Muhammadu Buhari and three other African leaders, Presidents Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia, John Mahama of Ghana and Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone have converged on Banjul, the capital of the Gambia, to convince the defeated president, Yahya Jammeh, to relinquish power.
Mr. Jammeh last week conceded defeat to Adama Barrow, but recanted his position shortly after the president-elect indicated interest to probe him upon inauguration.
President Muhammadu Buhari arrived Banjul, The Gambia this morning to meet with the country’s President, Yahya Jammeh, who lost the presidential electionThe Nigerian leader, who arrived together with President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia, who is the current Chairperson of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, and President Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra-Leone, was received at the airport by Gambia’s Vice-President, Isatou Njie-Saidy.
The out-going President of Ghana, John Mahama, who had earlier arrived Banjul, will join the other West African leaders to meet President Jammeh at the CoCo Ocean Resort and Spa, Banjul.
President Jammeh had earlier conceded defeat in the election, after a 22-year rule, but recanted a week later, asking for fresh polls to be conducted by a “god-fearing and independent electoral commission.”
President Buhari and the ECOWAS leaders will discuss the ensuing impasse in The Gambia with President Jammeh, and insist on the sanctity of the electoral process, and respect for the wishes of the people.
They would also ask their host to respect the Constitution of his own country, and maintain the inviolability of an electoral process that had been concluded, and in which he had admitted defeat, and congratulated his main challenger.
The leaders are also scheduled to meet the President-elect, Adama Barrow.
According to a statement by President Buhari’s spokesman, Femi Adesina, the president is expected back in Abuja later today.
