ANM Ousainu Darboe, Party Leader and Secretary General, UDP.
By Fatou Touray
The race to fill the vacant seat in the Banjul administrative area following the sudden departure of Momodou Bah from the Half Die Ward has sparked considerable interest among political parties. The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has confirmed the scheduling of by-elections in the ward, but already, political maneuvering is underway.
Bah, the former councillor of Half Die Ward in Banjul South and member of the ruling National People’s Party (NPP), was reported to have absconded while on an official trip to Belgium. The visit, which was intended to bolster the sister-city partnership between the Banjul City Council (BCC) and Ostend City Council, raised questions when he failed to return. His departure has left the seat vacant and created an opening that political parties are eager to contest.
The United Democratic Party (UDP), the country’s main opposition party, has been the center of much speculation over its intentions in the upcoming by-election. After weeks of internal debate, sources within the UDP have confirmed that the party has decided not to field a candidate for the Half Die seat. This marks a notable retreat for the UDP, which recently celebrated a victory in the Massembeh by-elections, where they successfully retained their seat. Despite this momentum, the UDP is wary of challenging the NPP in what is seen as a stronghold for the ruling party.
“We have been engaged in serious discussions, and the consensus has been not to contest in Half Die,” a senior member of the UDP told us. “This is a strategic decision, not one we make lightly, but we are focused on bigger goals for the upcoming elections.”
Meanwhile, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has signaled its intention to make a bold move in this NPP-dominated ward. Last week, the PPP informed its supporters and militants that it would be putting forward a candidate for the by-election, making it the only opposition party to officially announce its bid for the Half Die seat.
At the time of going to press, the UDP had not responded to requests for official comment regarding their withdrawal from the race. As the contest approaches, all eyes will be on the PPP and whether they can challenge the NPP’s dominance in a constituency that has traditionally favored the ruling party.