UDP Youth Leader Accuses NPP of Spending Millions to Create Illusion of Popular Support

By Seedy Jobe

Hagi Suwaneh, National Youth President of the United Democratic Party (UDP), has accused the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) of spending millions of dalasis to mobilize crowds for political events, alleging that the party is more concerned with projecting an image of popular support than addressing the country’s pressing challenges.

Speaking during an interview on QTV’s Xalaat programme, Mr. Suwaneh claimed that the NPP relies heavily on financial incentives to attract supporters, contrasting that approach with what he described as the UDP’s ability to mobilize people voluntarily.

He said President Adama Barrow was well aware of the UDP’s mobilization capacity, insisting that attracting large crowds had never been a challenge for the opposition party.

“President Barrow knows the UDP. Mobilization is not a problem for us,” he said.

Mr. Suwaneh, who is overseeing the UDP’s youth mobilization efforts ahead of the December 5 presidential election, said the party was deliberately shifting attention away from crowd sizes to substantive national issues.

He argued that Gambians should focus on assessing the country’s governance, demanding accountability from public officials and examining the need for political change.

According to him, the UDP’s campaign is centered on issues affecting ordinary citizens rather than demonstrations of numerical strength at political gatherings.

Mr. Suwaneh maintained that UDP supporters willingly attend party events, often covering their own transportation expenses without expecting financial assistance.

He contrasted this with the NPP, which he accused of transporting supporters over long distances, including from areas as far as Basse, to boost attendance at political events.

“Their focus is that they are only interested in perception. So they must spend millions for them to have that, unlike the opposition today,” he said.

He argued that while opposition supporters may lack the financial resources available to the ruling party, many remain committed to political change and are prepared to make personal sacrifices to participate in campaign activities.

Mr. Suwaneh said the UDP could mobilize supporters at any time and in any location without resorting to what he characterized as the NPP’s costly mobilization methods.

He further urged Gambians to evaluate political parties based on their policies, leadership, and commitment to accountability rather than the size of crowds attending their events.