Yahya Jammeh, the Gambia’s President, who has ruled the country for 22 years has struck to his grounds, by saying that he won't hand over power to president-elect Adama Barrow despite growing international pressure.

According to ceoafrica, Gambian President Yahya Jammeh has repeated that he won't step down despite losing the December 1 election, as West African leaders and Western powers urged him to hand over power peacefully.

Jammeh initially conceded defeat on state television after 22 years in power, but a week later, he made a U-turn saying he discovered some anomalies in the polls after which he ordered for fresh vote with complacent electoral officials.

Last week, Gambian troops stormed the Independent Electoral Commission office in the capital, Banjul, and instructed its chairman to leave while barring its employees from entering which occurred after the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) group led by Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia led other African Presidents to the country.

Jammeh's pledge to stay in office was broadcast on state television on Tuesday and indicated a hardening of the veteran president's position which came a day after president-elect Adama Barrow said he was ready to take office on January 18 the day Jammeh's mandate ends.

"I am not a coward. My right cannot be intimidated and violated. This is my position. Nobody can deprive me of that victory except the Almighty Allah," Jammeh said, as he condemned the ECOWAS for meddling in the Country’s affairs whose political crisis would be settled amicably.

It would be recalled that 11 Gambian diplomats serving in other countries recently urged Yahya Jammeh to hand over power, while Adama Barrow’s coalition spokesman urged the African Country’s president not to be a tyrant, thereafter saying that Jammeh won’t face prosecution after leaving office.