By: Momodou Justice Darboe
The chief strategist of the ruling NPP Mr. Lamin Cham has told a victory rally in the Upper River Region (URR) that drawing a parallel between the past election in Senegal and the Gambia’s 2026 election is like comparing apples with oranges.
Mr. Cham and a high-level delegation from the NPP last week traveled to the upper reaches of the country to grace with their presence NPP’s celebrations of its triumph in the region in the last local government elections.
“There are a lot of talks these days following the presidential election in Senegal. Some Gambians have taken ownership of the poll’s outcome but I would like to tell them that things may seem similar yet they are completely at variance, completely different,” NPP’s campaign manager Cham said as he delivered a statement at the victory rally.
“The past general election in Senegal and the incoming presidential election in The Gambia cannot be the same. In Senegal, it was two new entrants that squared up against each other. The winner of the Senegalese election did not contest against the incumbent. Therefore, Senegal’s election and Gambia’s election will never be similar,” he added.
The NPP’s campaign manager hinted that if President AdamaBarrow could emerge from the “difficult” 2016 electionunrattled, the 2026 election would just be a picnic for him.
“I want to cast your minds back to 2016. Adama Barrow’s contest in 2016 was more difficult than Diomaye’s. Adamachallenged an incumbent, whom you know, was a dictator. Jammeh’s dictatorial tendency was known by the entire globe but he was the one that Adama wrestled down. That election was more tense than the Senegalese election, which is why I earlier remarked that things may look similar yet they are far apart,” he posited.
Mr. Cham said he saw some youths on Facebook, saying theywere whipping up the sentiments of fellow youths to draw inspiration from President Diomaye’s victory and take the reins of their country.
“But I want to tell them that Facebook has never been a decider in Gambia’s election. Some have formed political parties since Adama became President but you may ask them what politics entails,” he stated. He continued: “When they saw Adamabecame President in three months, they thought they could also become President. They rushed and formed political parties. We have 19 registered political parties in The Gambia today but how many are you seeing? Leadership is not something that one struggles for but it’s something ordained by Allah. Allah has prepared Adama to lead well before he was even born. Fellow Gambians, I would like to re-emphasize that the NPP rule will be enduring, God willing. The NPP rule will not stop with Adama. His successor will come from the NPP and the successor of his successor will also extend the NPP rule.”
According to Mr. Cham, those anticipating Barrow’s fall are in for a surprise and shock.
“Those yearning for leadership must endeavor to work harder. All those waiting for Adama to leave the stage will waste away their time because those seeking to replace Adama are not leaders,” he argued. He added: “Leadership is only dished out by Allah to whom He wills. Many have aspired to become president but Adama was the chosen one and that’s the best thing to happen to The Gambia. May the peace that Allah gave Gambians in Adama be durable. If you turn down Allah’s blessing, His torment will befall you and anyone that Allah torments is irredeemably doomed.”