Barrow’s Coalition Partners Bring No Real Electoral Support, UNITE’s Sanyang Claims

By Makutu Manneh

Yaya Menteng Sanyang, deputy party leader for finance and administration of UNITE Party and National Assembly Member for Latrikunda Sabiji, has dismissed the ruling National People’s Party’s (NPP) expanding political alliance as a mere collection of politicians who, he claims, command little electoral support.

Speaking during an interview on QTV, Mr. Sanyang questioned the political influence of prominent figures who have joined forces with President Adama Barrow ahead of the December 5 presidential election, arguing that their alliances with the ruling party would do little to strengthen its electoral prospects.

“Fabakary Jatta went to Barrow empty-handed; all the APRC supporters are with APRC-No-To-Alliance. Mama Kandeh went empty-handed, Essa Faal went empty-handed, and Ismaila Ceesay went empty-handed,” he said.

Mr. Sanyang alleged that the crowds attending ceremonies to formalize the political alliances were largely made up of existing NPP supporters rather than followers brought into the ruling party by its new partners.

He argued that the distinction exposed what he described as the weakness of the NPP’s coalition-building efforts, suggesting that the addition of prominent political figures did not necessarily translate into broader grassroots support.

The Latrikunda Sabiji lawmaker also accused the ruling party of creating an exaggerated impression of its popularity by transporting supporters to political gatherings.

Drawing a contrast with UNITE’s campaign strategy, Mr. Sanyang said his party relied on local mobilization rather than bringing supporters from other regions to inflate attendance at political events.

He explained that when UNITE organizes a political gathering in a particular region, vehicles are mobilized only within that region to transport local supporters.

“We are not into a crowd competition,” he said, emphasizing that the party was more concerned with building genuine electoral support than demonstrating strength through large gatherings.

Despite the NPP’s efforts to consolidate political alliances ahead of the election, Mr. Sanyang expressed confidence that UNITE would emerge victorious in the December presidential contest.

His remarks underscore the growing political rivalry between the ruling NPP and opposition parties as they compete to demonstrate grassroots strength and build winning electoral alliances.