Former Mayor of Kanifing Municipal has won a controversial People’s Progressive Party’s leadership position against Banjul South lawmakers Honorable Fatoumatta Touma Njai at a congress held at Brikama-Ba over the weekend.
Ninety-two delegates gave Jallow the nod by raising their hand in an open ballot at PPP’s congress in Brikama-Ba on Saturday. His controversial victory came amid his opponent Touma Njai and her delegate supporters dashing out of the meeting.
The congress was marred by chaos, resulting in the intervention of personnel of the Police Intervention Unit deployed to Central River Region for peacemaking.
But earlier the election, Hon, Touma Njai said: “I’m a member of parliament. When we were voting for the majority and minority members of parliament, it was done through secret ballot. In these days and age, secret ballot is what exists,” she said standing her ground for a secret ballot and not an open raise-your-one vote. The politician insisted the constitution of the party could be amended and everyone should agree to weigh the party holds an election changed.
“They say PPP is one house, anyone who votes for me and another person are all one because in the end we will all work together. And I have shown that here. In the last congress, I supported BB Darbo but when he didn’t win and left, I stayed in the party because I believe in the party. And here too if anyone wins, I will work with you,” she added.
“All of you have heard OJ saying when Sir Dawda appointed him he was 32 years. But just look at our table, you don’t see any youth, you don’t see any women. This is why we need to take women and empower them and take the youth,” she insisted.