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BANJUL, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Supreme Court of Gambia can not proceed on hearing on President Yahya Jammeh's claim of irregularities in the ballot count, Gambia's Chief Justice Emmanuel Fagbenle announced on Tuesday.
Fagbenle said it was due to a lack of judges and absence in court of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and President-elect Adama Barrow.
Fagbenle said his court will not make decision on the matter before the January 19 inauguration of President-elect Adama Barrow.
He said the Nigerian and Sierra Leonean judges who are needed to sit on the case will not be available any time before May.
"We need a full court of five judges to be able to proceed," the chief justice said.
He therefore welcomed the move being taken by the sub-regional body -- the Economic Community of West AFrican States (ECOWAS) -- to peacefully resolve the crisis and called for alternative means of resolving the ongoing political deadlock through ECOWAS or inter-party committee that comprises all political parties in Gambia.
"Alternatively, ECOWAS can also provide judges to sit on the matter," he said.
Eduward Gomez, lawyer of Jammeh, said his client "will pursue his right to the fullest."
President Jammeh initially accepted his defeat the day after the December elections, but reversed position a week later, claiming he would not step down. Enditem
