By Fatou Sillah
The leader of the People’s Alliance Party (PAP), Ebrima Tabora Manneh, has argued that the size of political rallies, including those held at the Buffer Zone, should not be viewed as a reliable indicator of a political party’s popularity or electoral strength.
In an interview with Kerr Fatou, Mr. Manneh said his party places greater emphasis on grassroots engagement than on highly visible campaign tactics, maintaining that sustained community outreach is a more meaningful measure of political support than attendance at mass rallies.
He said the PAP’s strategy centers on direct interaction with voters rather than relying on social media campaigns, influencers, or prominent public figures to amplify its message.
According to Mr. Manneh, while political parties adopt different approaches to attract attention, the PAP believes building relationships within communities is more effective in securing long-term support.
He also cautioned against equating large crowds at political events with voter loyalty, arguing that attendance at rallies is often influenced by factors unrelated to political conviction.
“Anybody who goes to Buffer Zone used to fill it. Kebba Madi will be going there, and he is going to fill it, and even if Barrow went there, he is going to fill the place. If we go too, the same thing will happen, but that has nothing to do with loyal support; they are completely different,” Mr. Manneh said.
He contended that incentives such as free transportation, meals, T-shirts, and entertainment can attract large numbers of people to campaign events, making crowd size an unreliable gauge of genuine political commitment.
Despite what he described as a less public display of support, Mr. Manneh expressed confidence in the PAP’s grassroots network, saying the party enjoys a strong presence in several parts of the country, including the North Bank Region, Foni, the Kanifing Municipality, and the West Coast Region.
His remarks come as political parties continue to intensify mobilization efforts ahead of the country’s electoral contests, with large public rallies increasingly serving as visible demonstrations of campaign momentum. Mr. Manneh, however, insisted that electoral success is determined not by the size of a crowd at a single event but by the depth of support built within communities.
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