Gambian President Barrow's party wins parliamentary election but falls short of absolute majority

Banjul, Gambia (PANA) - Gambian President Adama Barrow's National People’s Party (NPP) won Saturday's legislative election but fell short of an overall majority in the National Assembly, according to preliminary results announced by the Electoral Commission.

The party won 18 seats and President Barrow will pick five MPs, including the Speaker, to the 58-member House.

The main opposition United Democratic Party won 15 seats, independent candidates won eight seats, National Reconciliation Party (NRP) won four seats and the party of former President Yahya Jammeh, Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC), took six seats.

Meanwhile, out of 19 women who contested the election only three were elected.

President Barrow was reelected with some 53% of the votes last December.

Saturday's vote was marked by low turnout as voters used the ballot to register their dissatisfaction with the government for not doing much to address their plight, especially rising cost of basic commodities.

-0- PANA MSS/MA 11April2022