UNITE’s National President Dibba: ‘Only Death Can Keep Bensouda Off the Ballot’

By Makutu Manneh

Ebrima Dibba, national president of the UNITE Party, has declared that the party’s leader, Talib Ahmed Bensouda, will contest the upcoming presidential election, saying only death could prevent his name from appearing on the ballot.

Speaking in an interview on Kerr Fatou, Mr. Dibba expressed confidence that Mr. Bensouda would be a candidate on Election Day, alongside President Adama Barrow and other contenders.

“As long as Talib is alive, he will be on the ballot on Election Day, just like President Adama Barrow,” Mr. Dibba said.

Mr. Dibba warned that any attempt to prevent Mr. Bensouda from contesting could provoke political unrest, arguing that the UNITE leader had committed no crime that would warrant his exclusion from the election.

“Preventing Talib from running would put the country into chaos, and I would be at the forefront of the young people to resist such a move,” he said.

Mr. Dibba said supporters were prepared to resist what they considered an injustice even at great personal risk, referring to instances under a previous government in which demonstrators were killed. He declined to elaborate further on the remarks.

He stressed, however, that the government had not confirmed speculation about efforts to bar Mr. Bensouda from the presidential race, and he said it had issued no official statement indicating that the UNITE leader would be prevented from contesting.

Mr. Dibba said UNITE had no intention of plunging the country into turmoil but would not be intimidated or allow what it considers its political rights to be taken away.

His comments come amid public speculation over Mr. Bensouda’s eligibility following findings by the Commission of Inquiry into the conduct of local government councils. Similar concerns about efforts to prevent Mr. Bensouda from contesting have circulated publicly in recent days, although no official decision barring him from the election has been announced.

Mr. Dibba also defended Mr. Bensouda against corruption allegations, describing him as a contented young leader willing to work in the public interest.

He said he had seen nothing in the commission’s draft report that, in his view, would disqualify Mr. Bensouda from seeking public office.

“I have not seen anything in the draft report that can disqualify Talib from contesting for any office, even that of an Alkalo,” he said.

Mr. Bensouda was elected leader of UNITE at the party’s national congress in May, while Mr. Dibba was elected national president. The party has since been campaigning for Mr. Bensouda’s presidential bid.