BREAKING: Jammeh desperately trying to hang on to power despite losing to Barrow

Jammeh with guards during 2011 presidential elections

A source close to Jammeh who has just lost his bid for a 5th term as president to Adama Barrow informed us that he has convened a meeting at State House with his Security Chiefs in advance of his much anticipated television announcement scheduled for today at 9:PM GMT.

According to the same source, Jammeh is trying to convince the security chiefs that the election results were rigged by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) against him and in favor of his opponent, Adama Barrow. 

As we go to press, the meeting with the Security Chiefs is still going on with heated exchanges between Jammeh and some members of the military brass, some of whom are standing fast with the Gambian voters and refusing to go along with their Commander-In-Chief to subvert the Constitution.  Some of them have clearly expressed their determination to protect and defend the will of the Gambian people who have expressed their preference at last week's presidential elections.  

We reported last week that Jammeh was contemplating a staged coup, among other scenarios, designed to keep him in power.  Among them was to create a situation that will allow him to step in to "save the day and averting chaos and lawlessness" according to an earlier source.  Given a divided military, such a plan was difficult, if not impossible.  Thus, this blatant and naked power grab by simply refusing to hand-over power peacefully.

Some signs that Jammeh was planning a palace coup were evident since the shocking news that the dictator has been removed from office through the ballot box - a rare feat in African electoral history. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, president of Liberia and Chairwoman of ECOWAS trip to Banjul was a casualty of Jammeh's machination when it  was abruptly cancelled and deferred indefinitely by the Gambian dictator. 

Since the election results were announced last week and it became evident that Jammeh had lost, some prominent members of the ruling party, the APRC, have been agitating the base of the party and local chiefs and dignitaries to show solidarity by demanding that Jammeh stays.  It was unclear, even from the ardent supporters the rationale for such an action for a candidate that has clearly lost the elections despite the advantages of incumbency. 

Our advise to Jammeh is simple : he should pack his bags and vacate the State House - which is the People's House - to avert pointless bloodshed.  The Gambian people have spoken and their will must be respected.  To subvert it is treasonable.  We hope he gets the point.

                                                                  

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This is a developing story