Njie, chairman of electoral commission, flees Gambia

Alieu Momar Njie, chairman of the Gambian Electoral Commission, has fled the country following threats to his life, his nephew said on Tuesday.

Njie had declared Adama Barrow winner of the December 1 presidential election, but Yahya Jammeh, the president and a candidate of for the election, has refused to relinquish power, challenging the election results in court.

Modou Njie told newsmen that his uncle had left the country because of the threats.

“He was not willing to leave but the family had to put pressure on him. I understand that he is currently outside Gambia,” he said.

Security forces had earlier occupied the office of the electoral commission and denied staff access for weeks, but have since left the premises.

Barrow said on Monday that he would take power on January 19, “as mandated by the constitution”, in spite of Jammeh’s court challenge.

After more than two decades in power, Jammeh, 51, lost the election to Barrow, a former real estate agent who was little known even in Gambia before he announced his candidature.