By Makutu Manneh
Almameh Gibba, the APRC No-To-Alliance National Assembly Member for Foni Kansala, has accused the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) of engaging in vote-buying during the Bantanjang Ward by-election campaign.
Speaking in an interview on Kerr Fatou, Hon. Gibba said the election outcome was unexpected, alleging that inducements were distributed to influence voters. He claimed that the Minister of Agriculture, Demba Sabally, provided D20,000 and football jerseys to local football clubs in communities within the ward.
“I told the boys accepting inducement that it will make it difficult not to do what the person wants, even though they assured me their position has not changed,” he said during a current interview on Kerr Fatou.
Hon. Gibba further stated that he cautioned young people that such practices undermine their dignity, adding that many had already been compromised. “We observed that most of the boys were already taken,” he alleged.
He also claimed that on the eve of the election, he personally witnessed alleged vote-buying involving Dou Sanno, alongside an imam, an alkalo, and chiefs in the area.
“The NPP won because people sold their votes. Some were given D3,000. This is evidence-based, and Dou Sanno cannot deny it because I caught him myself,” Hon. Gibba asserted.
The lawmaker rejected the notion that voters supported the ruling party in anticipation of development, arguing instead that the outcome reflected a lack of awareness among voters. “This government has been in power for almost ten years and has brought no development to them,” he said.
Commenting on the by-election, political analyst Lamin Juwara said he was not surprised by the NPP’s victory. He noted that internal divisions within political parties, including the incumbent, often influence electoral outcomes.
“I believe Amie Colley’s departure from APRC No-To-Alliance was a significant factor in their loss in Bantanjang, considering the margins,” Juwara said.
He added that Bantanjang Ward remains a challenging area for President Adama Barrow’s party. “By the statistics, when opposition votes are combined, they exceed what Barrow secured in the Bantanjang Ward by-election. It is the simple majority that enabled the NPP to win the seat,” he explained.
Juwara further noted that while political scholars caution against using by-elections to predict presidential election outcomes, such contests can serve as indicators of grassroots support and political control.
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