Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, the Gambia) – The United Democratic Party (UDP) has strongly criticized Minister of Justice Dawda Jallow’s recent remarks regarding the consensus-building process around the 2020 Draft Constitution, labeling them as “false and misleading.” In a press release issued following the Attorney General’s press conference on August 28, 2024, the UDP expressed grave concerns over what it perceives as an intentional effort by the Barrow administration to derail the people’s aspirations for a new constitution.

The UDP asserted that the failure of the 2020 Draft Constitution, which aimed to introduce key reforms such as presidential term limits, was a direct result of President Barrow’s lack of political will. The party accused both the President and Minister Jallow of orchestrating a deliberate campaign to ensure that the draft did not pass in the National Assembly in September 2020.

According to the UDP, the Justice Minister’s refusal to defend the draft at the National Assembly was a clear signal to President Barrow’s allies to vote against it. The UDP highlighted that all its National Assembly Members (NAMs) supported the draft, while those aligned with President Barrow, many of whom were former UDP members, voted against it, leading to its ultimate rejection. The party also pointed out that many of these members were later rewarded with executive appointments, further emphasizing what they describe as a betrayal of the Gambian people.

The UDP also addressed the ongoing consensus-building efforts led by international figures, including former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan. While acknowledging its participation in these consultations, the party clarified that no consensus was reached on several contentious issues, such as term limits, secularism, and the independence of the Inspector General of Police. The party also refuted claims by the Attorney General that a revised draft had been circulated for review, labeling such statements as untrue.

The UDP’s statement underscored that the party was neither aware of nor involved in the 2024 redrafting process, which it claims has fundamentally altered key provisions of the 2020 draft. The UDP described the changes, such as the extension of police detention from 48 to 72 hours and the removal of certain progressive elements like the reduction of presidential powers, as unacceptable.

In its strongest terms, the UDP called for the immediate withdrawal of what it referred to as the “2024 Barrow/Dawda Jallow draft,” insisting that the document does not reflect the will of the Gambian people and is a far cry from the aspirations embedded in the original 2020 Draft Constitution.