Mai Ahmed Fatty, leader of the Gambia Moral Congress (GMC) and coordinator of the National People’s Party (NPP) Political Alliance Secretariat, has called on residents of Wuli in the Upper River Region to reject opposition parties, particularly the United Democratic Party (UDP), ahead of the December 5 presidential election.
Fatty made the remarks in Wuli Taibatu during President Adama Barrow’s Meet the People Tour, where he accused opposition politicians of trying to mislead voters and urged residents not to attend their political gatherings.
He claimed that the UDP had little support in Wuli and predicted that the party would fail to secure votes in the area.
“If the opposition comes here, do not listen to them. Do not go to their meetings. Do not welcome them and do not respect them because they do not want what is best for the country,” Fatty told residents.
The GMC leader further accused opposition figures of attempting to deceive the electorate, urging the community to reject their messages and remain behind the ruling alliance.
Fatty also defended Barrow’s record in office, arguing that the president’s administration had already delivered more to the people of Wuli than opposition parties could offer.
He maintained that opposition groups had little to present to residents that the current government had not already provided.
His remarks add to the increasingly forceful political exchanges taking place during the Meet the People Tour as parties and alliances seek to consolidate support ahead of the December election.
Fatty’s call for residents to shun opposition meetings also raises questions about the tone of political campaigning and the importance of allowing voters to hear competing views before making their choice at the ballot box.
The UDP and other opposition parties were not quoted responding to his claims in the remarks provided.
