Darboe Says UDP Will Challenge Disputed Election Results in Court, Not on the Streets

By Fatou Sillah

United Democratic Party leader Ousainou Darboe has said his party will turn to the courts, rather than street protests, if its tally of presidential election results differs from the official figures announced by the Independent Electoral Commission.

Speaking in an interview with West Coast Radio, Darboe sought to clarify recent remarks by senior UDP officials who have said the party would accept nothing short of victory and could celebrate a win based on its own tally before the IEC formally announces the results.

Darboe said those statements were intended to encourage party supporters and should not be interpreted as a threat of violence or an attempt to disregard the country’s electoral process.

“We have always been responsible people in this country,” Darboe said. “We have never at any time done anything that will put this country aflame. In fact, we have always resisted that.”

Darboe also defended the party’s position that its supporters could begin celebrating once its internal tally indicates a UDP victory, even if the IEC has yet to make an official declaration.

He drew a distinction between celebrating results compiled by the party and formally declaring a candidate the winner of the presidential election, a responsibility that rests with the electoral commission.

Darboe said the UDP would also consult its coalition partners before determining its response to any discrepancy between figures compiled by the opposition alliance and those officially announced by the IEC.

But he made clear that if the party believes the official results do not correspond with its own tally, it would seek legal redress rather than mobilize supporters for street protests.

“If suddenly our tallies are different, we will not accept it,” Darboe said. “We will go to court and ask the court to look at the two figures. We will certainly contest it in court, but we will not take to the streets. That much, I can tell you.”