By Lamin Cham
The ongoing talks aimed at selecting a single opposition candidate under the Coalition Taskforce Mediation Committee (CTMC), has reached a decisive stage.
The Standard has been told that the four opposition leaders are Talib Bensouda of UMC, Essa Bokar Sey of Forgam, Essa Faal of APP-Sobeyya and Professor Sheriff Yaffa, independent. Our source said initially, six people applied but one withdrew while another was found not eligible.
The selection date has now been confirmed for Saturday 8th August at The Kairaba Beach Hotel. However, according to our sources, the conveners have established another layer which calls for negotiation among the aspirants for a consensus candidate and only when that failed would they conduct an election to select a flag-bearer.
Sources at the talks said out of the 20 parties and groups that started the talks, UDP, PPP and PAP, six groups, and others withdrew, leaving 13 parties and groups who would go ahead to complete the process under the supervision of civic society organisations and other observers.