By Fatou Sillah
Mod K. Ceesay, the chief of staff and a cabinet minister, publicly invited Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda to join President Adama Barrow’s National People’s Party (NPP) following Bensouda’s resignation from the executive of the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP).
Speaking to Peter Gomez on Coffee Time, Mr. Ceesay framed the invitation as part of a broader effort by the ruling party to attract young leaders and community figures across the political spectrum. “I am inviting people like Talib and everybody else to join the NPP,” he said. “We are a political party, and we respect every Gambian regardless.”
Mr. Bensouda, who is viewed as one of the UDP’s rising stars, has not publicly commented on whether he intends to accept the offer. When asked whether the mayor had visited the State House, Mr. Ceesay said he was unaware.
The chief of staff also used the occasion to criticize the UDP’s internal politics, pointing to what he described as structural challenges and a lack of credible competition in the party’s recent selection of Ousainou Darboe as its presidential candidate.
“The outcome was so obvious to some of us who follow politics that this was not a surprise; it was expected, and it was just basically a very simple exercise process—nothing new—but the process changes really were worrying, and really, people, if that is what demonstrates internal democracy in a political party, then definitely we have a long way to go,” he said.
Mr. Ceesay suggested that Mr. Darboe’s continued leadership—he is now the UDP’s flag bearer for a sixth time—should put to rest the president seeking a third term.
“The UDP flag bearer is now going for a 6th term, so then Adama can also go for a third term,” he said.