Bart Jansen

USA TODAY

Gambia’s President Yahya Jammeh has “accepted defeat” after more than 22 years in power and is expected to address the West African country, the head of the election commission said Friday.

The announcement from Alieu Momarr Njai came a day after eight opposition parties united behind a single candidate, former businessman Adama Barrow, to oust Jammeh.

“This is very unique that somebody who has been ruling this country for so long has accepted defeat,” Njai told The Associated Press.

Jammeh had predicted voting Thursday would give him “the biggest landslide in the history of the country.”

But previous elections since 1994 have been criticized as rigged. Human rights groups say his regime has ordered the deaths of countless political opponents, and he is also accused of targeting journalists, and gays and lesbians.

Barrow awaited Jammeh’s concession before claiming victory.

“He is not going to be re-elected — his era is finished,” Barrow said Thursday.

Contributing: The Associated Press