President Muhammadu Buhari arrived Banjul, The Gambian capital, Tuesday morning to meet with the country’s President, Yahya Jammeh, who lost the presidential election penultimate week.
The Nigerian leader, who arrived together with the current Chairperson of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia and President Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra-Leone, were received at the airport by Gambia’s Vice-President, Isatou Njie-Saidy.
According to a statement issued by Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Nigerian President, Mr. Femi Adesina, the out-going President of Ghana, John Mahama, who had earlier arrived Banjul, will join the other West African leaders to meet President Jammeh at the CoCo Ocean Resort and Spa, Banjul.
President Jammeh had earlier conceded defeat in the election, after a 22-year rule, but recanted a week later, asking for fresh polls to be conducted by a “god-fearing and independent electoral commission.”
President Buhari and the ECOWAS leaders, according to Femi Adesina, will discuss the ensuing impasse in The Gambia with President Jammeh, and insist on the sanctity of the electoral process, and respect for the wishes of the people.
They would also ask their host to respect the Constitution of his own country and maintain the inviolability of an electoral process that had been concluded in which he had admitted defeat and congratulated his main challenger.
The leaders are also scheduled to meet the President-elect, Adama Barrow.
President Buhari is expected back in Abuja later Tuesday evening.
