Presidential Adviser Mballow: NPP Will Overcome UDP and UNITE in KMC, WCR by December

By Makutu Manneh

Presidential Adviser Saihou Mballow has expressed confidence that the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) will make significant gains in the Kanifing Municipality and West Coast Region ahead of the December 5 presidential election, saying the party is working to erode the support enjoyed by UNITE and the United Democratic Party (UDP) in the two areas.

Speaking on Kerr Fatou’s The Brunch Show about a recent opinion poll released by Gambia Participates, Mballow questioned the findings, arguing that they do not accurately reflect the NPP’s level of support across the country.

He also cast doubt on the apparent rise in support for UNITE and its leader, Kanifing Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda, saying he did not believe the party’s reported growth reflected the political reality on the ground.

“If you are a key follower of politics in these areas, in KMC Talib will dominate. Still now he has favors in KMC where he is still the mayor,” Mballow said. “I have been talking to people; we are working very hard, and God willing by December we will overcome Talib in KMC because now we know his stronghold is KMC.”

Mballow, however, disputed the suggestion that UNITE dominates the West Coast Region, describing the area instead as a traditional UDP stronghold.

He said the NPP remains strongest in the North Bank, Central River, Lower River and Upper River regions, which he described as key areas of support for President Adama Barrow and the ruling party.

According to Mballow, the main electoral contest for the NPP is in KMC and the West Coast Region, where the party is competing with UNITE and the UDP. He predicted that the NPP would overcome both opposition parties in those areas by the December election.

Mballow also addressed the debate over President Barrow seeking another term in office, arguing that opposition to a third term is being driven by a relatively small group of political actors.

He said most Gambians are more concerned about governance and the delivery of public services than the debate over presidential term limits. He further claimed that some opponents are emphasizing the third-term issue because they believe they cannot defeat Barrow at the ballot box.

Turning to the Gambia Participates poll, which found that about 17 percent of respondents were undecided, Mballow rejected the suggestion that the group represented a genuinely open bloc of voters.

Instead, he claimed that many of those respondents were NPP supporters who were reluctant to publicly disclose their political preference and predicted that they would ultimately vote for President Barrow in December.

The assertions reflect Mballow’s assessment of the electoral landscape and come as the NPP, UDP and UNITE intensify efforts to consolidate their respective strongholds and win over undecided voters ahead of the presidential election.