By Seedy Jobe
The United Movement for Change (UNITE) on Thursday accused the governor of the Central River Region of unlawfully confiscating the official stamp of a village Alikalo, describing the action as a violation of due process and an abuse of public authority.
At a news conference in Fajara, the movement’s spokesperson, Kemo Bojang, said the incident—centered on Nyagen village—raised broader national concerns about governance and the rule of law, rather than a dispute confined to party politics.
“Regardless of who it was, who it is, we believe that due process must be followed,” Mr. Bojang said. “What is right needs to be done. We believe that the governor’s position, or the stance he took, contravenes public trust, contravenes the rule of law, and was impunity in broad daylight.”
According to Mr. Bojang, the village Alikalo, Baboucarr Nyang, was summoned through the local district chief and instructed to appear before the regional governor, Ousman Bah, with his official administrative stamp. Upon his arrival, Mr. Bojang said, the governor confiscated the stamp, alleging that Mr. Nyang had allowed it to be used for opposition political activities linked to his son, who is affiliated with UNITE.
Mr. Bojang rejected the accusation as unfounded and characterized the governor’s remarks as “reckless” and “dangerous,” arguing that they were inconsistent with democratic norms.
He said that, given the village head’s advanced age and limited mobility, it was not unusual in rural communities for trusted family members to assist with administrative duties. “Our findings confirm that the Alkalo remains present and supported by his family in the village,” he added.
UNITE said it dispatched senior officials, Ebrima Diba and Karafa Sonko, to the region to investigate the matter. Mr. Bojang described their reception at the governor’s office as dismissive, saying they were kept waiting and later told the governor would not have met them had he known the purpose of their visit. He added that the governor declined to offer any explanation for his actions.
“This behavior reflects a troubling disregard for accountability,” Mr. Bojang said, warning of what he described as a growing culture of impunity in public office.
The party also faulted the legal basis of the seizure, arguing that the authority to remove or suspend a village head’s official stamp lies with the Ministry of Local Government and must follow established administrative procedures. Mr. Bojang said the minister, Hamat Bah, was out of the country at the time of the incident and unaware of the decision until UNITE raised the issue.
UNITE further rejected claims that the village head was not resident in Nyagen, insisting that he remained active in the community.
Mr. Bojang suggested the confiscation was politically motivated, alleging that it reflected a pattern in which public officials blur the line between state authority and partisan interests, particularly during electoral periods.
He pointed to what he called a contradiction in recent political messaging, noting that the president had encouraged local officials to engage in political campaigning, while, he said, a village head was now being penalized for a perceived association with the opposition.
“This double standard strikes at the heart of electoral fairness and equal political participation,” Mr. Bojang said.
UNITE called for the immediate return of the stamp, an independent investigation into the governor’s actions, and broader reforms to ensure administrative neutrality and accountability.
“The Gambia belongs to all of us,” Mr. Bojang said. “We remain committed to defending democratic values and protecting institutional integrity.”
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