5. The Defendant on the other hand filed its defense via an Application for extension of time on the 2nd of November 2016, which was granted. The Defendant denied each and every material allegation of fact set out in the Plaintiffs Application and states that the Elections Amendment Act applies generally to all Political Parties without discrimination. The Defendant in denying the Plaintiffs allegation on failure to subject the proposed amendment to public debate or scrutiny, states that the amendment was initiated based on a proposal made by the Independent Electoral Commission of the Gambia. That the Electoral Amendment Bill was published in the Gazette on 1st June 2015, and then introduced in the National Assembly on the 7 th of July 2015 in accordance with the requirements of section 101 (3) of the Constitution of the Gambia. That the Electoral Amendment Act 2015 has been operational for more than one year unchallenged by the Plaintiffs. The Defendant states that the explanatory memorandum delivered to the National Assembly complied with the requirements of section 101(2) of the Constitution of the Gambia. The Defendant denies the allegation of using government administrative buildings and resources to fund the ruling party and further states that the activities, facilities and logistics needs of all the Political Parties in the Gambia, including the APRC are funded from the resources of the Political Parties and not from State Resources. 6