Coach Pa Samba Jow Accuses NPP of Using Tribal Politics to Influence Voters

By Fatou Sillah

Political commentator and human rights advocate Coach Pa Samba Jow has accused the ruling National People’s Party of resorting to ethnic and racial rhetoric to influence voters ahead of the 2026 presidential election.

Jow also criticized President Adama Barrow’s ongoing Meet the People Tour, accusing the president and his allies of turning what he described as a taxpayer-funded and ostensibly nonpartisan exercise into a political platform for the NPP.

“The president, like he’s done so many times, has decided to not only abuse this provision of the Constitution but also abuse his executive powers by turning a tax-funded tour that is supposed to be apolitical into one of promoting the NPP and engaging in one of the despicable atrocities that we have seen coming from his camp,” Jow said.

He took particular issue with remarks about foreigners and ethnic groups, including comments warning against handing the country over to a Lebanese person. Jow said no Lebanese citizen was seeking the presidency and characterized such rhetoric as both tribalist and racist.

He accused the NPP of appealing to ethnic and racial sentiment rather than asking voters to judge the party on its record in government and its policies for the country.

Jow also pointed to remarks directed at the Manjago community, warning that statements by government officials and ruling-party figures could create an environment in which similar attacks by supporters become more acceptable.

He urged Gambians to reject what he described as fearmongering and to base their votes on the performance, policies, and records of the candidates and political parties seeking office.

“To the Gambian people, do not buy this fearmongering; vote for your realities,” Jow said. “If you support the NPP, vote for them based on what they are doing for the country; do not vote for anybody by fearing a particular tribe or a particular politician based on what you are sold.”