Gambia’s Supreme Court has dismissed a legal challenge to President Adama Barrow‘s recent election victory. It stated that its proponents had not followed proper procedure in filing it, court documents showed on Tuesday.
Barrow emerged winner of the December 4 poll after defeating Ousainou Darboe by 53% of total vote cast. Darboe and two other candidates refused to accept the results, citing alleged irregularities at polling stations without providing evidence.
Darboe’s United Democratic party (UDP) petitioned the Supreme Court to nullify the results the following week despite election observers having said the poll was conducted fairly.
The court dismissed the petition on Tuesday on the grounds that Darboe’s party had failed to serve Barrow within five days of filing it, which violated the Gambia’s fair trial procedures.
Chief Justice Hassan B. Jallow wrote in the judgement “The UDP failed to comply with the requirement of Rule 11 of the Election Petition Rule, which required that you file a motion of petition and security.”
The Supreme Court decision in the Gambia is final and cannot be appealed.
