A West African regional bloc says it is withholding election monitors from Thursday's presidential elections in Gambia because it does not expect the vote to be held in a free and fair manner.

The 15-nation Economic Community of West African States said Wednesday pre-election conditions were not “conducive for the conduct of free, fair and transparent polls,” citing voter intimidation and manipulation of electronic media.

The election is widely expected to hand a fourth term to the incumbent President Yahya Jammeh after opposition groups failed to form a coalition to mount an effective challenge to his rule.

But veteran opposition leader Ousainu Darboe tells VOA he is confident he can unseat Mr. Jammeh, because Gambians are disenchanted with the longtime ruler and are ready for change.

President Jammeh, who is known to toss candy and other gifts to supporters at campaign events, has been accused of forced disappearances, killings and torture. He is also accused of stifling political dissent and press freedoms.

But Mr. Jammeh's supporters say he has helped improve the country's infrastructure, education and healthcare.

At the end of campaign season on Tuesday, Gambia's main cities were full of pro-Jammeh posters and t-shirts, with little opposition support to be seen.

While campaigning earlier this month, Mr. Jammeh said neither a vote nor a coup could remove him from power, adding his victory is a “foregone conclusion.” He has previously said that only God can remove him from power.

President Jammeh took power in a bloodless military coup in 1994, and since then the tiny West African country has been relatively stable.

Gambia is the smallest country in Africa, a thin sliver of land surrounded on three sides by Senegal.

Due to high levels of illiteracy, the country uses an archaic voting system devised by British colonialists. Instead of ballot papers, Gambians will vote by dropping a marble into a drum that represents the candidate of their choice.