A senior member of the National People’s Party (NPP) has said the United Democratic Party is harping on the contentious retroactive clause as a scapegoat while the party fears over maintaining the 50+1 voting system over no backing in second round.
Honorable Seedy SK Njie made this remarks shortly after the fall of fourth mediation talks on the rejected draft Constitution in Banjul.
“There is also another school of thought that the United Democratic Party is holding on retroactive clause as a scapegoat. But what’s certain is that they are not interested in the 50% plus 1% vote because they think when there is a second round voting no political party will back them,” Mr Njie said.
The United States-based International Republican Institute is now tasked to establish an Independent committee to look into the saga of the draft constitution and help broker consensus.
This comes after fourth mediation talks by former Nigerian President Dr Goodluck Jonathan failed in the country, as the United Democratic Party and the National People’s Party differed to come to agreement over the contentious retroactive clause.
Meanwhile, Mr Mamma Kandeh, leader of Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC) described the situation as ‘a critical stage’ adding he doesn’t want a setting up of a new committee.
“We are given it two or three weeks to see what type of things are going to be set up…to look at things technically,” Mr Kandeh said.
“Actually, it shouldn’t have dragged to this level, it should have been solved since December (2020), but because where political parties are involved there are talks here and there. PPP we will never lose hope, that’s why from PPP point of view, we are hopeful,” Kebba Jallow, who won the leadership of the People’s Progressive Party in controversial congress, said.
He said the retroactive clause should scrap out of the draft constitution, saying you cannot bring a law today and enact, we support the non-inclusion of the retroactive law.”
The United States-based International Republican Institute has now tasked to set up a new committee to look into the tug-of-war over the rejected draft constitution and help broker a solution in order to send the contentious book to a referendum.