Supreme Court postpones hearing in Jammeh’s petition

Gambia’s Supreme Court, on Tuesday, postponed hearing in a petition filed by outgoing President Yayah Jammeh to challenge the results of the December 1 presidential election, which he lost to Adama Barrow.
The court’s registrar said: “The case has been adjourned until January 16, since only one of the required minimum of five judges is present.”
Barrow, a former real estate agent, who was little known before he announced his candidacy, was scheduled to take office on January 19.
The postponement of the case came one day after the Communications Minister, Sheriff Bojang, stepped down and fled the West African nation.
Bojang said he resigned because Jammeh’s refusal to accept the outcome of the presidential election was disregarding the will of the people.
On Monday, several West African heads of state resolved to intervene in Gambia’s political crisis after meeting in the Nigerian capital of Abuja.
They were expected to arrive in Gambia to meet with Jammeh, who has ruled the country for more than two decades, on Wednesday.
The Economic Community of West African States, the UN and the African Union are also expected to take part in the dialogue and call on Jammeh to respect the country’s constitution.
During an earlier meeting in December, West African heads of state failed to convince Jammeh to permit peaceful transition of power.
Some observers fear that delays to the planned handover of power can lead to violence.