Mayor Lowe Urges KM Voters to Back Darboe, Citing Economic Hardship

By Seedy Jobe

Mayor Rohey Malick Lowe of Banjul urged voters in the Kanifing Municipality to support opposition leader Ousainu Darboe in the Dec. 5 presidential election, arguing that rising living costs and persistent electricity problems have made daily life increasingly difficult for Gambians.

Speaking at a rally organized by the UDP-led alliance in Kotu Quarry, Mayor Lowe addressed residents of Latrikunda, Manjai and Kotu Quarry, calling on the neighboring communities to remain united despite political differences.

“No politician can come and divide these communities into two,” she said. “We will not allow it today, we will not allow it tomorrow.”

Lowe thanked residents for what she described as their longstanding solidarity and said the approaching election should remain their primary focus. She urged supporters to turn out in large numbers for Darboe and cautioned voters against allowing material inducements, including cooking pots, to influence their decisions.

“The people are bigger than cooking pots,” she said.

Much of Lowe’s speech focused on the cost of living. She pointed to household electricity expenses and unreliable power supplies from NAWEC as examples of the financial pressures confronting families.

“You may say you don’t like Ousainu Darboe, but you will not say the country is sweet,” Lowe said.

She argued that economic hardship cuts across political affiliations, citing rising market prices, medical expenses, rent, transportation costs and the financial burden of educating children. She also described the strain these pressures have placed on households and working families.

Lowe told the gathering that the election was about more than Darboe’s candidacy, framing the vote as an opportunity for residents to make a decision about their own economic circumstances and future.

The mayor also raised concerns about possible demolitions in parts of Kotu, telling residents that some compounds were being measured and alleging that demolitions could follow after the election.

She did not provide evidence at the rally establishing that the measurements were connected to a planned post-election demolition exercise.

Lowe asked residents to remain vigilant and said they were better positioned to know whether their properties had been measured. She maintained that she was not trying to mislead voters and warned residents to consider the issue before casting their ballots.

She said residents should not wait until after the election, if demolitions occur, to regret having failed to act earlier.