By Makutu Manneh
Yaya Menteng Sanyang, vice chairman for finance and administration of UNITE Party, has said the adverse findings made against Kanifing Municipal Council Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda by the Local Government Commission of Inquiry do not prevent him from contesting the 2026 presidential election.
Sanyang, who is also the National Assembly member for Latrikunda Sabiji, made the remarks during an appearance on Kerr Fatou’s The Brunch, where he was asked about Bensouda’s decision to challenge the commission’s findings before the Court of Appeal.
He argued that Bensouda was exercising a constitutional right available to anyone facing an adverse finding by a commission of inquiry. Under Section 204 of the 1997 Constitution, a person subject to such a finding may appeal to the Court of Appeal as of right, with the commission’s finding treated for purposes of the appeal as though it were a judgment of the High Court.
Sanyang said the adverse findings concerning Bensouda amounted to only a few sentences in the commission’s report. He added that Bensouda was given an opportunity to respond to the findings, as were other individuals adversely mentioned by the commission.
According to Sanyang, Bensouda went beyond submitting a response and chose to exercise his right to challenge the findings in court.
He maintained that neither the findings nor Bensouda’s decision to appeal them automatically disqualifies the UNITE leader from seeking the presidency.
Sanyang drew a comparison with United Democratic Party leader Ousainu Darboe, citing findings made against Darboe by a tax commission established under former President Yahya Jammeh. According to Sanyang, Darboe challenged those findings before the Court of Appeal and later the Supreme Court.
“Does that prevent Ousainu from contesting presidential elections in this country?” Sanyang asked. “Those who claim Bensouda is now banned do not know the history.”
Sanyang also sought to reassure UNITE supporters about the potential implications of a government white paper responding to the commission’s report. He argued that whether such a white paper is issued before or after the election, any action arising from it would have to be grounded in law.
He urged party supporters to remain calm, maintaining that the commission’s findings do not, by themselves, amount to a ban on Bensouda’s presidential candidacy.
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