President Adama Barrow has responded to remarks by United Democratic Party (UDP) leader Ousainou Darboe about the use of state resources in elections, predicting that the opposition leader will suffer a wider defeat in the December 5 presidential contest.
Speaking to residents of Taibatu in the Upper River Region during his Meet-the-People Tour, Barrow recalled his victory over former president Yahya Jammeh in the 2016 election, arguing that control of state institutions and access to public resources do not guarantee electoral success.
The president said Jammeh had commanded the security services and enjoyed considerable political influence before losing the election.
“In 2016, the person I defeated was holding the key to the Central Bank, was in control of the police, and had marabouts, witches, and jinns, yet I defeated him,” Barrow said.
He reinforced his argument with a proverb: “A knife that slaughters an elephant cannot be unable to slaughter a chicken.”
Barrow also referred to the 2021 presidential election, in which he defeated Darboe, insisting that he did not need to draw on the Central Bank’s resources to secure victory.
The president went on to predict that Darboe would face an even heavier defeat in December, expressing confidence in his own electoral prospects.
Barrow pointed to the reception he said he had received during visits to communities in the North Bank and Upper River regions, presenting the turnout at his meetings as an indication of support for his administration.
He also expressed confidence in his standing in Wuli, describing residents as politically aware and suggesting they would not be persuaded by the opposition’s campaign messages.
The exchange comes as Barrow and Darboe intensify their political activities ahead of the December election. Darboe has raised concerns about the potential use of state resources to influence the electoral contest, while Barrow has argued that his previous victories demonstrate that access to government power does not automatically translate into votes.
The campaign is building momentum and the competing claims reflect the increasing attention being paid to electoral fairness, the use of public resources and the level of confidence each candidate has in their voter support.
