The fight against the unconstitutional Local Government authorities Act which was recently passed into law by lawmakers, giving wide ranging powers to the President to remove elected council members including Mayors, has begun. The Act also empowered  President Jammeh  to dissolve Area Councils and call fresh elections whenever he deems it necessary. Well, the United Democratic Party, UDP yesterday called a press conference to inform the general public that it has filed an injuction in the High Court to prevent the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) from conducting Local Government elections, slated for January 24, 2008. 
 
Ousainou Darboe,  leader of the United Democratic Party (UDP) told journalists that his party has filed an injuction at the High Court and that a legal notice from the party's lawyers was served to the Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) advising him to halt Local Government election process, pending the outcome of the legal tussle that has just begun in earnest between the State and UDP.

According to Lawyer Ousainou Darboe, a certificate of urgency was also filed in Court by the plaintiffs, demanding that the case be heard urgently on grounds that it arises from grave and important constitutional issues of utmost public interest affecting Gambian citizens. He added that the certificate has suggested it was important that the matter be heard urgently to urge IEC not to go ahead with elections, pending the High Court ruling on the matter.

"If a Mayor or Area Council Chairman is elected today and the President removes that person and call... elections; what is the reason for the Local Government elections?" he asked, adding, "that is the reason why the UDP is filing lawsuit against the Secretary of State for Local Government, Lands and Religions Affairs".

Darboe said the UDP is also in the process of seeking another injunction from the Supreme Court of The Gambia to restrain the IEC from going ahead with elections as planned by the government.

He however disclosed that the UDP will contest in all parts of the country and that they have identified their candidates for Banjul and Kainfing. He said the only part of the country where the UDP is finding it difficult to have people contest elections was Foni, the President's alleged birth place.