Parliament Descends into Chaos as Speaker Ejects Member for Central Baddibu

Parliament descends into chaos as Speaker rules to eject Member for Baddibu © Askanwi

By Edward Francis Dalliah and Yusef Taylor

The National Assembly descended into chaos after Speaker of the House, Hon. Fabakary Tombong Jatta, ruled for the Member for Central Baddibu, Hon. Sulayman Saho, to vacate the chambers on 23rd December 2024. On the same day, Pollsters Afrobarometer issued a survey highlighting that Parliamentarians reserved the least approval after the President and Local Government Councillors.

In a show of chaotic leadership and perhaps why 65% of Gambians polled, disapproved or strongly disapproved of Parliamentarian's performance over the last 12 months, the Majority and the Minority Caucus were at loggerheads, bringing Parliament to a standstill.

The Speaker's ruling followed a point of order raised by the Member for Sabach Sanjal, Hon. Alagie B. Ceesay, who accused the Member for Central Baddibu of interrupting proceedings during a debate. Hon. Alagie B. Ceesay, an Independent Member, is fond of raising points of order and consistently opposes the Minority Caucus, which is led by the United Democratic Party.

The incident occurred while the Member for Nianija, Hon. Amadou Camara from the National Reconciliation Party, was speaking on a motion moved by the Member for Kantora, Hon. Billay Tunkara from the National People’s Party. Hon. Billay Tunkara, who doubles as the majority leader, moved a motion to adjourn the Fourth Ordinary Session, which members from the Minority Caucus objected to.

As the Member for Nianija presented his points, noise erupted in the chambers, prompting the Member for Sabach Sanjal to raise a point of order. This led to a tense exchange between the Speaker, the Member for Central Baddibu, and the Member for Sabach Sanjal.

Speaker Jatta © Askanwi

The Member for Central Baddibu objected to the Point of Order from the Member for Sabach Sanjal, arguing that Speaker Jatta was not being "fair" to him because the Member for Sabach Sanjal was also causing disruptions by "drumming" on the table.

Despite this objection, the Speaker ordered the Member for Central Baddibu to sit down and remain quiet until he was given the floor to speak. However, the Member for Central Baddibu did not comply, allowing the Speaker to demand his removal from the Chambers.

The situation escalated as members of the Minority Caucus stood in solidarity with their colleague.

The Member for Serekunda West, Hon. Madi Ceesay, also from the UDP, declared that if the Member for Central Badibu should leave, he would also vacate the chambers. Initially, the Member for Central Baddibu resisted leaving, but he eventually exited the chambers along with his colleagues.

Before resuming proceedings, Speaker Jatta emphasized that the National Assembly operates under the rule of law and reminded members of their obligation to abide by it.

The survey by the Afrobarometer highlights that only 31% of respondents approve of Parliamentarians performance in the previous year. Coming in first is the president, whom 62% of persons polled strongly disapprove of while only 36% approved of his performance.

In second place are local government councillors whom 60% of respondents disapprove or strongly disapprove of their performance, while only 34% of respondents approve. In conclusion, all the leaders could not gather approval of 50% from Gambians, showing that all political leaders suffer from a lack of approval from respondents who were asked, “Do you approve or disapprove of the way that the following people have performed their jobs over the past 12 months, or haven’t you heard enough about them to say?”