PDOIS Secretary General Urges Gambians to Vote Based on Living Conditions in December Election

By Makutu Manneh

Suwaibou Touray, Secretary General of the People’s Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS) and an aspirant for the flagbearership of the Team Gambia Grand Coalition, has urged Gambians to assess their living conditions before casting their ballots in the December presidential election.

Addressing residents of Nyanga Bantang, Touray said voters should evaluate the government’s performance based on their everyday experiences, particularly access to food, healthcare, education, employment, and essential public services.

He encouraged voters to consider whether they can adequately feed their families, whether hospitals are functioning effectively, and whether farmers have access to affordable fertilizer and viable markets for their produce.

Touray also urged Gambians to reflect on the quality of their children’s education, employment opportunities for graduates, the cost of electricity, and the reliability of water and power supplies.

“You should not forget that the country belongs to you and should not elect people whose living conditions become 100 times better than yours when they are in the presidency,” he said.

The PDOIS leader also criticized President Adama Barrow’s nationwide tours, questioning the use of public resources to finance presidential travel.

Touray claimed that Parliament had allocated D50 million for the president’s nationwide tour and argued that taxpayers’ money should not be used for political campaigning.

He further accused the government of mismanaging public funds, citing what he described as growing concerns over the use of state resources.

Touray maintained that voters should judge those seeking public office by their record in improving citizens’ welfare rather than the privileges and benefits they enjoy while in power.