By: Bakary Ceesay
United Democratic Party (UDP) has revealed that the party is not aware of President Adama Barrow’s mandate extension from three to five years by some Coalition stakeholders.
On 27, September, 2019 five political parties of Coalition 2016 coalition namely; National Reconciliation Party (NRP), Gambia Moral Congress (GMC), People’s Progressive Party (PPP), and Gambia Party for Democracy and Progress (GPDP) and National Convention Party (NCP) agreed and extended President Barrow’s mandate from three to five years to enable him finish the ongoing reforms in the country.
United Democratic Party (UDP), People’s Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS) were absent during the discussion.
However, in a press release from National Executive Committee of UDP and signed by Mariam B. Secka, UDP deputy leader stated that following a meeting that was held in State House by a cross section of Coalition 2016 and the President of the republic, on 27th September, 2019, concerns have been raised by their party supporters in various parts of the country.
“The National Executive of United Democratic Party wishes to clarify that UDP was not aware of the said meeting held in State House and did not therefore participate in it.
“And since UDP was not aware of the said meeting, the decision arrived there does not and cannot bind the UDP and its supporters,” the release said.
The release added: “Since on 6th May, 2019, the UDP delegation marched out of the coalition meeting at Kairaba hotel, we have not been invited and or consulted on any issues relating to Coalition 2016.”
