Main opposition party boycotts parliamentary polls

The Gambia's ruling party appears assured of victory in legislative elections to be held on 17 January following a decision by the main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) to boycott the polls. President Yahya Jammeh's Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC) will run unopposed in 33 out of 48 constituencies. In the other 15, it faces the National Reconciliation Party, which had two members in the last parliament, and the People’s Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism. Jammeh nominates five other legislators to the 53-member parliament. UDP leader Ousainou Darboe announced the boycott two weeks ago, saying the polls were "seriously flawed". He said the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) was allowing Gambians to vote in any area of choice in "an attempt by the IEC to aid the massive transfer of ruling party supporters to what are historically opposition strongholds". The IEC, in a statement, dismissed Darboe`s claims as "unfounded and lacking sincerity and goodwill". Jammeh won a presidential election three months ago with 53 percent of the votes.