By Buba Gagigo
The University of The Gambia’s Judicial Tribunal has ordered the university’s Electoral Commission to halt all election-related activities until the three disqualified candidates’ motion on notice is ruled upon.
Nyaninka Manjang, who was seeking to be elected president, and Ousman Drammeh, who was vying for a seat on the Gender and Health Council, were both disqualified because they are currently in their final semester at the university. Ebrima Sama, who was running for a position on the Student Representative Council, was disqualified because he is only in his first year of studies.
The Case was called on Tuesday 7th November 2023 at the judicial Tribunal of the University of The Gambia.
Below is the full ruling by the University of The Gambia Judicial Tribunal shared with Kerr Fatou;
“The Counsels for Applicant submitted an Ex Parte motion on 6th November 2023 and moved on the 7th of November 2023 for an injunction to restrain the Electoral Commission of the UTGSU from continuing with the conduct of any electoral activity until the substantive suit is determined. The said motion is supported by an affidavit of 14 paragraphs sworn by Nyaninka Manjang and Ousman Drammeh and another affidavit of 13 paragraphs sworn by Ebrima Sama.
“The Tribunal has considered the averments in the supporting affidavits, and it is convinced that the granting of the application as sought by counsels for the Applicants will not be detrimental to the parties before the tribunal. It is therefore, in the interest of Justice and considering the urgency of the matter at hand, the tribunal grants the application, pursuant to ORDER 25 of the Rules of the High Court, based on the following orders; That the honourable tribunal restrains respondent from conducting any electoral activities pending the ruling and determination of the motion on notice. That the Applicants shall serve respondent within three (3) days a motion on notice, failure of which this tribunal shall revoke the order made.”