Washington, DC — Contrary to widespread fears of violence and chaos, Gambia's crucial presidential poll proceeded and ended peacefully on Thursday. Reliable sources on the ground told allAfrica.com that the voter turn-out was surprisingly good, there were no major incidents and polling stations across the country closed at 1600hrs GMT.
The run-up to Thursday's poll was marred by a spate of violent clashes between ruling party supporters and supporters of the three-party opposition coalition led by Lawyer Ousainou Darboe.
The worst clashes on Tuesday left at least one opposition supporter dead after security forces opened fire apparently in a bid to disperse rowdy crowds. The compound of the ruling party MP for Serekunda East constituency was burnt to the ground by angry youths, fuelling fears that the actual polling day would see more violence.
"We have had reports from our agents at polling stations across the country and we are very satisfied with the conduct of the polls," said Mr. Ebou Manneh, Senior Administrative Secretary for the coalition. "We are very happy and we are confident of victory. We are just waiting for the preliminary results," he said.
A senior coalition member told allAfrica.com that so far, they were "95 percent satisfied with the conduct of the polls."
"There have been a few hitches, but overall we are happy. We have conducted ourselves responsibly and there has not been a single incidence of violence," said Mr. Momodou Darboe.
Neither coalition member would rule out the possibility of future problems, however.
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Meanwhile, a similarly optimistic note was sounded by President Jammeh's Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction. House Majority leader Tamsir Jallow told allAfrica.com that his party's candidate was confident of a landslide victory.
"The voter turnout was very good across the country and everything went on very peacefully. We are very very confident of a landslide victory," said Mr Jallow. He cited the fact that the first result that came in from Janjanbureh constituency in Central River Division indicated a victory for Jammeh.
As at 1900hrs GMT, independent sources on the ground still maintained that the election was too close to call. Fears that the counting process or actual results would spark further controversy and possible violence were still valid, an observer told allAfrica.com.
President Jammeh has however, been quoted as saying that he would concede defeat in the event that his opponent was declared the winner.
Preliminary results were expected to start being broadcast by national radio and television by nightfall Thursday.
Several international observers and media organisations, including groups from the Commonwealth, the British House of Commons, the United Nations, Transparency International, the BBC and AP, are in the country for the polls.
