UTGSU elections Ansumana Darboe emerges winner

The long awaited election for a new student leadership of the University of The Gambia Student’s Union (UTGSU) has finally came to an end, last Monday, November 24th as students of the University of the Gambia went to the polls to elect a fresh bath of people who would spear-head their activities in the course of the 2009 academic year.

This year’s UTGSU elections have been marked by great difference, as the interest of students towards unionism demonstrated hightened momentum during the course of the electoral contest. A good number of candidates contested for the most senior portfolios, notably the Presidency, Vice presidency and International and Public Relations offices.

According to the official results from the students electoral commission, Ansumana Darboe, a 3rd year student from the department of social sciences, was elected president, beating his main challengers in what could be described as a landslide victory, with 70.44% of the total votes caste.  The first runner up, Momodou Bah, received 16.18%, while Sherif T.J Sanyang and Anthony Mendy got 8.41% and 4.97% respectively.

Paul A Correa, a 3rd year student from the department of economics and management narrowly emerged vice president with 44.17% of the total votes caste, beating his female opponent, Binta Sowe, with a margin of 490, the former receiving 40.2%, while the third vice presidential aspirant, Philip Gomez, rounded up with 15.63%.

Journalist Isatou Bittaye, also a third year student from the department of social sciences, easily rose to the portfolio of information and public relations officer with a landslide victory, clinching 61.22%, beating her opponents, Acquah Hackman and Sait Matty Jaw, whom collected 29.05% and 9.73% respectively.

As Ansumana Ceesay went unopposed, the portfolio of secretary general landed safely in his hands.Speaking to the Daily Observer shortly after been declared winner, information and public relations officer-elect, Isatou Bittaye, attributed her victory to the ’courage, trust and confidence’ the students had in her.  She promised that she would do her utmost best to fulfill the promises she made to students during the campaign trail.  Isatou Bittaye further congratulated the students for having the confidence to put them into office, and fellow contestants for what she called having the courage to rise to the challenge of students unionism.

Bittaye however solicits the support and cooperation of the general student body, noting that the executive cannot achieve their ambitions with out their help.The newly elected vice president, Paul A Correa, remarked that his victory was the victory of the general student body, recognising that people had elected him because they had seen his keen interest and devotion to addressing their needs. “I am going to set up committees so that we can collectively tackle the problems of students because for me I believe that the executives cannot do it all alone with out the general support of students,” he told the Daily Observer.

For his part, President-elect Ansumana Darboe, who was in a jubilant mood, re-echoed the sentiments of the newly elected executives.  He promised to work as a team with his executive council and the general student body to achieving the needs and aspirations of the students.

Mr Darboe’s triumph in the polls was however not a surprise to many as opinion polls conducted by some students who claimed to be independent political analysts after the convention day puts him at a comfortable lead over his opponents.The Daily Observer has also reliably learnt that this year’s UTGSU elections have registered the highest voter turn out in the union’s political history.