Gambia electoral commission head flees the country, nephew says

The chairman of the Gambian electoral commission has fled the country following threats to his life, his nephew said. Alieu Momar Njai had declared Adama Barrow the winner of the December 1 presidential election, but President Yahya Jammeh has refused to relinquish power, challenging the election results in court. Modou Njai told dpa his uncle […]

The chairman of the Gambian electoral commission has fled the country following threats to his life, his nephew said.

Alieu Momar Njai had declared Adama Barrow the winner of the December 1 presidential election, but President Yahya Jammeh has refused to relinquish power, challenging the election results in court.

Modou Njai told dpa 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 late Monday.

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

Barrow said Monday that he would take power on January 19 as mandated by the constitution, despite 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 candidacy.