With barely four months to go before Gambians head to the polls to elect a new president, political horse-trading has seen the opposition Gambia Democratic Congress coalescing with the ruling National People’s Party led by Presdent Adama Barrow.
The new political alliance was sealed on Wednesday at state house in Banjul at a high-stakes event witnessed by President Barrow and GDC leader Mamma Kandeh.
Kandeh is renowned for performing above expectation in the 2016 presidential elections garnering enough votes to tip the scales in favour of Mr Barrow against then incumbent Yahya Jammeh. After the main opposition United Democratic Party, his GDC is widely seen as the third political force numerically in The Gambia.
Welcoming him to State House to seal his alliance with the ruling NPP, President Barrow described it ”as an act that reflects laudable moral courage and patriotism, and demonstrates genuine commitment to putting national unity above partisan interest”.
Barrow said his party’s alliance with others has no room for discrimination based on ethnicity, religion, gender, or factors.
”What matters is the Gambian nation…we will continue expanding opportunities for our youth, empowering our women, improving infrastructure, strengthening our economy, and ensuring that development reaches every community without discrimination” he said.
Mr. Kandeh who was accompanied by a strong GDC entourage said his party’s alliance with the NPP was informed by the need to unite in the cause of moving The Gambia on a development trajectory which should serve the interest of all its citizens and al those who live within its borders.
He vowed that the GDC would move in tandem with the NPP government’s development aspirations, a cause to which he encouraged other political groups to join ahead of the December 5th presidential elections.
Barrow’s alliance with Kandeh comes barely two days after the UDP literally walked out of talks with other opposition groups to form an election coalition to challenge the incumbent at the polls.
The UDP said as the biggest opposition force in the country it should naturally provide the standard bearer to lead any coalition to the polls, a position rejected by other parties who argue that it undermines the prospect for unity, fairness in choosing a candidate.
WN/as/APA