Some supporters of APRC blamed former president, Jammeh’s defeat on some former party insiders, who they claimed took their leader to marabouts to cast a spell on him to be “erratic and threatening”.

Jammeh, who came to power at the age of 29 and ruled the country for 22 years, lost the election mainly for his provocative, childish and outrageous statements against the Mandinka ethnic group which went viral thanks to social media.

During a political rally in the West Coast Region, he went on an unexpected tirade and rant against the country’s biggest tribe, claiming they are not ‘originally from The Gambia but foreigners’.

One of his supporters said: “Lately, he was not at peace with himself and the world. He made statements that annoyed many. We were convinced that they took him to marabouts and that was why his popularity dwindled like a burning candle in the wind.”

Outspoken and braggadocios by nature, Jammeh made some rather outrageous statements before and during the campaign. At a meeting in Banjul, he shocked many by taking a swipe at women who bleach their skin in a bid to attract men. According to him, most of them look light-skinned outside but their private parts are dark.

Some of his critics reckoned that he was either on drugs or losing every bit of his mind.

Most of the foolish rants the APRC presidential candidate made during his nationwide tour came to haunt him in the election. He suffered a humiliating defeat in the hands of a newcomer, Adama Barrow.