Under-fire Opposition MP Jamahl Simmons is remaining tight-lipped ahead of Friday?s crunch vote which will see party opponents try to grab key positions in a bid to oust him.

Former MP Erwin Adderley said his supporters believe his chances for success are good ? despite the fact he lost an earlier bid to replace Mr. Simmons as adopted candidate for Pembroke West seven months ago.

The 67-year-old former Transport Minister denied he was sending out a discouraging message by trying to unseat a younger colleague.

Mr. Adderley explained he had been the senior member in the area in the old dual-MP days but had moved to try to unseat Neletha Butterfield in the 2003 election as the United Bermuda Party upped the stakes in a bid to remove the Progressive Labour Party government.

?I am not saying I want to look around for a safer seat but it was part of my seat.?

And he said there was unhappiness with Mr. Simmons? performance.

Mr. Simmons has been accused of neglecting constituency issues ? a charge he denies.

Mr. Adderley said: ?If my perception is incorrect then Mr. Simmons will continue representing that area. It is as simple as that.?

Asked if the split looked bad as the party geared up for a crucial general election campaign, Mr. Adderley said: ?The process started seven months ago when I first mounted a challenge.

?I am not starting anything ? it?s continuing. I want to make that quite clear. The people who support me are still interested in having a go.?

Mr. Adderley also stressed he was unhappy the internal machinations of the party had ever been leaked to the media. The AGM will be held at UBP central offices on Friday evening. Originally scheduled for November, it had been postponed after Mr. Simmons suffered heart problems but he has since recovered. Mr. Simmons said yesterday: ?I am not going to comment until after ? I am keeping my cards close to my chest.?

If successful Mr. Adderley?s supporters hope to reselect the selection committee which blocked his last bid to become an adopted candidate.

Mr. Simmons, who is the UBP?s spokesman on Race Relations and Economic Empowerment, was first elected at a by-election in 2002.