Barrow Vows to Defeat Darboe in Native Fulladu, Force Him Into Political Retirement

By Makutu Manneh

President Adama Barrow has vowed to deliver a decisive electoral defeat to United Democratic Party (UDP) leader Ousainou Darboe in his native Fulladu in the December 2026 presidential election, declaring that the outcome would force his longtime political rival into retirement.

Speaking in Bansang, Central River Region, during his nationwide Meet-the-People tour, Mr. Barrow said Mr. Darboe’s ancestral ties to Fulladu would not shield him from defeat. He predicted that the UDP leader would suffer a greater electoral setback there than anywhere else in the country.

The president said he wanted Mr. Darboe to understand the extent of his political strength, insisting that the opposition leader would be unable to withstand the support he had mobilized.

“I will defeat him and make him retire from politics,” Mr. Barrow declared.

Pointing to the large crowd that welcomed him to Bansang, the president said the turnout demonstrated overwhelming support for his candidacy and signaled that Fulladu was firmly behind him ahead of the December election.

He went further, declaring that the electoral contest in Fulladu was effectively over, despite the vote still being weeks away.

Mr. Barrow made the remarks during his constitutionally mandated Meet-the-People tour, which has taken him to communities across the country ahead of the December 5 presidential election.