By Buba Gagigo
MC Cham Jr., a staunch supporter of the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP), has stated that if the Gambia Police Force takes pride in arresting Mbemba Drammeh, then Seedy Njie, the current Deputy Spokesperson for the National People’s Party (NPP), should also be held accountable for his 2016 rejection of the presidential election results.
Cham, who is critical of the police’s handling of political matters, cautioned law enforcement against carrying out politically motivated orders, stressing that politicians come and go, but the Gambia remains. His comments followed the police’s recent arrest of Mbemba Drammeh, who is alleged to have been involved in the controversial 2021 election rigging, a claim that opposition members continue to deny.
In a recent interview on Kerr Fatou’s weekly show, Politic Kaacha, Drammeh made accusations against his former party, stating that he would elaborate on his claims in the coming months. His remarks were met with a strong response from the opposition, who called for Drammeh to provide evidence to support his allegations. The NPP, in turn, issued a statement denying the allegations, which were reportedly made public by their Deputy Spokesperson, Seedy Njie.
Cham strongly criticized Seedy Njie, pointing out that Njie was part of the movement that sought to undermine the legitimacy of the 2016 election results. According to Cham, Njie’s public rejection of the 2016 election results and his opposition to the swearing-in of President Adama Barrow contributed to the political unrest that forced thousands of Gambians to flee the country. Cham argued that if Drammeh was arrested for his statements, then Njie should face similar consequences.
“Seedy Njie actively collaborated with former President Jammeh to undermine the will of the Gambian people by disputing the legitimacy of the 2016 election, claiming it was neither free nor fair. Not only did he do this, but he also publicly opposed the swearing-in of President Barrow, a stance that forced thousands of Gambians to flee the country. How can someone with such a track record now preach about election integrity and democracy? If Mbemba was arrested for his remarks, then Seedy Njie deserves to share the same cell for openly betraying the Gambian people and willfully attempting to subvert their will. It is shameful for Seedy to address a crime he himself perpetrated in this country eight years ago,” Cham asserted.
Cham emphasized that Drammeh’s comments were not new and simply reiterated what was already known: the opposition’s longstanding rejection of the 2021 election results. He argued that Drammeh had done nothing criminal, asserting that the allegations of election rigging were widely recognized by the opposition.
“The opposition rejected the results of the 2021 election and contested the outcome in court. To this day, they maintain that the election was rigged and fraught with widespread irregularities. Mbemba’s statements only validate our suspicions, and he has committed no crime. The police should refrain from being used as tools for political agendas, as The Gambia belongs to all of us. The timing of the police’s invitation to Drammeh, following the NPP’s release, raises serious questions and cannot simply be dismissed as a coincidence. This is not an isolated incident, as we all witnessed a similar situation during the Voice Newspaper controversy involving the NPP,” he alleged.
Cham also blamed the police’s actions on the lack of implementation of the Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations Commission (TRRC) recommendations, suggesting that the security forces have failed to learn from past mistakes. He accused figures like Seedy Njie of reviving tactics from the Jammeh era to intimidate citizens.
With the 2026 elections approaching, Cham urged the police to remain neutral and avoid becoming embroiled in political conflicts. “The police must recognize that they serve all Gambians, not just the politicians in power. By 2026, President Barrow will be gone, but the police will still be here, serving the same citizens. They must be careful how they handle political matters,” Cham concluded.