However, due to a shortage of judges to hear the petition, the Supreme Court postponed hearing the petition until May, four months after the Jan. 19 handover date. Gambia's Supreme Court, short of judges, has said it might not be able to consider the challenge until May, and Jammeh says Gambia should await its decision. The decision by the AU’s Peace and Security Council warns Jammeh of serious consequences if his actions lead to the “loss of innocent lives” and calls on Gambia’s security forces to exercise restraint.As the international community looks for a peaceful way out of the crisis in the West African nation, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has been authorized to offer Jammeh asylum, if necessary, during Friday’s visit.But the West African regional bloc also has a military force on standby to intervene if Jammeh does not step down.
The African Union says it will cease to recognize Yahya Jammeh as President of The Gambia on January 19, the date he is to hand power over to his opponent Adama Barrow, who won last year's election.