Gambia Action Party has dismissed claims made by Tamsir Jasseh, who briefly served as its presidential aspirant before he resigned, as fallacious.
Mr Jasseh had said he left GAP because leader Batchilly refused to resign even after negative things concerning him online.
“I think basically, it was because on social media, we have observed some very negative things concerning the secretary general and party leader at the time, and who is still the party leader. And we thought that would harm GAP’s opportunity to become a viable party in the political spectrum. So, we asked him to step aside so to look for a new leader, he was unwilling to do that and we thought there is no way we can do what we want to do and have the credibility that we want with this type of leadership. So, I decided to walk away,” MrJasseh had said.
However, GAP said in a rebuttal: “The Gambia Action Party wish to clarify to the party surrogates and the entire nation that the recent statement uttered by Tamsir M Jasseh, the former National President of GAP, was fallacious and aimed to mislead the general public as well as tarnish the image of the party in his quest for political fame. Few months ago, he decided to join Gambia Action Party as the only party that has national interest as he claimed in his maiden media appearance at The Fatu Network, but not knowing that his primary focus was to be the party’s presidential candidate.
“MrJasseh along the way defected from the party after knowing that GAP operates on democratic principles and the rule of law that limited his chances to fulfill his selfish desire. The GAP administration approached him few days later he regretted and rescinded his decision which was published on Standard Newspaper.
“GAP is never disappointed with Mr Jasseh’s remarks, as he comported himself on divide and rule tactics just to lead the party only to accomplish his last ditch financial crisis. Despite all the efforts and obtrude he positioned himself, he frequently used abusive as well as derogatory remarks in almost all the executive meetings he attended and created violence scenes. That alone demonstrated his incompetence and unreadiness to rule this great country.
“The GAP administration believes that with time and effort, Mr Jasseh will change attitudes towards national development initiative undertakings. He applied for the role of flag bearer and the party had in mind that he took part of 2006 Col Ndure Cham’s coup attempt which led to his incarceration, charged and convicted with treason and felony that led to his imprisonment for more than five years in Mile II Central Prison at the solitary wing. The GAP administration questioned his qualification after his trial and tribulation, but he boasted to have acquired presidential pardon.
“Democracy at its best, the party accepted his application and began investigative process at the Ministry of Justice to ensure he’s cleared from the mess of attempted overthrowing of democratic elected government. Three weeks into the investigation, MrJasseh believed that he misled the party on false pretence that he got full presidential pardon and violated the standing order of GAP by calling series of outside meetings with three co-opted executive members with the intention of self-declaration as an independent candidate while investigation was still ongoing. A week later the party through the Ministry of Justice realised that MrJasseh’s pardon was just verbal as his name did not appear in proclamation list accorded to convicts from 1990 to 2021 and that led to his disqualification from contesting in the December 4 and subsequent Presidential Elections. Constitutionally, he is again disqualified to have retired from the public office voluntarily.
“We would like to call on the attentions of GAP members and the general public that MrJasseh, Pa Lamin Jatta and Adama Jallow left the party and on no occasion can represent the party or act as members of GAP. The party decided not to humiliate Mr Jasseh in the public space, but he went ahead to smear lies against the executive that they wanted the resignation of the Secretary General and Party Leader, Musa Ousainou Yali Batchilly. We challenge Mr Jasseh to substantiate this allegation and inviting him on public showdown.”