By Ebelo Fumpere

In spite of all efforts he made to influence the outcome of the presidential election, The Gambian President, Yahya Jammeh has lost to opposition leader, Adama Barrow.

The head of the Gambian electoral commission, Alieu Momar Njiehe announced on Friday that Barrow got 263,515 to beat Jammeh who polled 212,099 votes.

“Having received 263,515 votes of the total votes cast in the election, I hereby declare Adama Barrow duly elected to serve as president of the Republic of Gambia,” Njiehe said.

He also stated that President Jammeh would accept the result of the election.

The Gambian ruler had cut off the Internet, banned international phone calls, banned protests and reduced political campaigns to two weeks before the poll.

Apparently all that did not stop Barrow, a previously unknown businessman behind whom a coalition parties rallied to challenge Jammeh.

The man who called himself the proud dictator has ruled The Gambia for 22 years since 1994 when he seized power in a coup.

Since he took power, Jammeh had never faced any serious challenge at previous elections, but several political parties came together under a coalition to fight him in this poll, nominating Barrow as their candidate.

Gambians cast their ballot in the election by putting marbles in a drum representing their chosen candidate, as the government reasoned that it better served many voters who were not educated.

Jammeh has not reacted to his defeat. Although the election commission boss said he would concede and congratulate the winner, the unpredictable dictator might refuse to accept the result, a situation that could plunge his country into crisis.