Kemo Bojang Says NPP’s Dominance in URR Is Overstated, Points to Shifting Political Landscape

By Makutu Manneh

Kemo Bojang, UNITE’s Deputy Party Leader for Political Matters and Governance, has challenged the perception that the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) holds an unassailable advantage in the Upper River Region (URR), saying recent political developments suggest the region is becoming increasingly competitive.

Speaking on Kerr Fatou’s The Brunch Show, Bojang said UNITE conducts monthly assessments of its political standing across the country, examining areas where the party is gaining support as well as those where it needs to strengthen its presence.

He said recent visits and engagements with communities across URR have revealed what he described as a noticeable shift in the region’s political landscape.

“I can tell you for a fact that URR is not a game-over position for the ruling NPP. There is a lot of shifting that has happened there, and we have seen it,” Bojang said.

The Upper River Region has generally been regarded as one of the NPP’s strongest political bases. Bojang, however, argued that such perceptions may overstate the ruling party’s current level of support in the region.

He said UNITE has received encouraging responses during its engagements with communities in URR, with residents urging the party to maintain and expand its outreach efforts. Bojang said the party believes it has made considerable gains in the region, while acknowledging that other opposition parties have also made progress.

Bojang also pointed to recently released polling data from Gambia Participates, saying the findings reinforce his argument that the political contest remains open and that no party should assume it has secured a decisive advantage ahead of the 2026 presidential election.

His comments come as political parties and opposition groups intensify grassroots engagement ahead of the election, with URR expected to remain an important battleground in the contest for votes.