The head of Gambia's election commission says President Yahya Jammeh will accept defeat more than 22 years after he seized power in a coup, The Associated Press reports.

The announcement came Friday, December 2 from Alieu Momarr Njai, who said the longtime leader would give a statement later in the day.

Njai said it was "very unique" that Jammeh would accept defeat after controlling Gambia for so long.

There was no immediate comment from Jammeh, who just days ago had said his victory was all but assured by Allah. Since coming to power in 1994, Jammeh has won a series of elections that were denounced by critics as rigged.

Jammeh is accused by rights groups of ordering the deaths of his political opponents and his regime has also targeted journalists, and gays and lesbians.