Sulaynman Camara, NPP Media and Communication Secretary
By Buba Gagigo
The National People’s Party (NPP) has accused the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) of using the National Assembly’s rejection of diaspora voting as a political tool to gain sympathy.
In a statement, the NPP Media team criticized the UDP and its supporters, arguing that they are attempting to misrepresent the decision for political advantage.
“The UDP and its media team seem to believe that just because their supporters in the diaspora are loud and aggressive on social media, they somehow represent the majority of Gambians abroad. This is a delusion they have sold to themselves for years, and reality keeps proving them wrong. If social media noise translated into electoral success, the UDP would not have suffered a humiliating defeat in the 2021 presidential elections, a defeat so devastating that it nearly reduced them to a mere protest movement rather than a serious political party.” They said.
The NPP maintained that Gambians—both at home and in the diaspora—have rejected what they describe as the UDP’s divisive politics and rhetoric through the ballot box.
“Unlike the UDP, which now pretends to care about Gambians abroad, President Adama Barrow has been the first and only president to recognize the immense contribution of the diaspora to national development. That is why, under his leadership, he appointed an Adviser on Diaspora Affairs, a move that no previous government including those supported by UDP ever thought of,” they said.
The ruling party further argued that its government sees the diaspora as genuine stakeholders in national progress rather than mere political tools.
“The UDP claims it respects the rights of citizens, but this is laughable at best and hypocritical at worst. People like me, and many others, who dare to have a different political opinion from them are constantly insulted, vilified, and personally attacked by their supporters. What kind of respect for citizens’ rights is that? Where is their so-called tolerance when they cannot even engage in civil political discourse without resorting to intimidation? If they truly respected the rights of citizens, they would have created an atmosphere of mature political debate rather than one of hostility and insults,” they said.
Additionally, they urged the UDP to be more informed about diaspora voting in the West African region.
“Which English-speaking West African country allows full diaspora voting apart from Ghana? Even Ghana, which passed a law in 2006, has struggled to fully implement it due to logistical challenges. The reality is that diaspora voting is easier in French-speaking countries because in those nations, elections are conducted directly by the government. In contrast, in English-speaking West Africa, elections are managed by independent electoral commissions, making the process more complex,” they said.
The NPP called on the UDP to refrain from what they described as misleading claims and political opportunism.
“To our Gambian brothers and sisters in the diaspora, President Barrow and the NPP government have your interests at heart. This government will continue to explore practical and effective ways to ensure that the diaspora’s contributions to The Gambia are recognized and maximized. Unlike the UDP, which only remembers the diaspora when it suits their political agenda, we see the diaspora as an integral part of national progress, not just a voting bloc,” they said.
The NPP media team also reminded the UDP that political success is built on genuine policies and national unity.
“Leadership is about genuine policies, national unity, and tangible progress, not baseless accusations and divisive rhetoric. The Gambian people, both at home and abroad, have rejected their tactics before, and they will do so again in 2026,” they concluded.