Barrow Buying Off UDP Delegates Ahead Of Party Congress.

President Adama Barrow’s political operatives and surrogates have embarked on a nationwide tour to canvass for support among United Democratic Party (UDP) Chairmen and Chairwomen ahead of the party’s Congress scheduled for December this year, the Freedom Newspaper can reveal. The Barrow delegation is led by veteran Sukuta born politician Yusupha Cham, Lamin Cham, Dodou Sano and Alkali Conteh. Money was being distributed during the tour in an attempt to canvass support for Adama Barrow, who is interested in heading the UDP. Barrow wants the UDP to elect him in the upcoming Congress, according to sources familiar with the story. 
Badibu, situated in the North Bank Region of The Gambia, was the first port of call for Yusupha Cham’s delegation. They proceeded to Farafenni, and Kaur, in the Central River Region of The Gambia. Villagers and party Chairmen and Chairwomen were informed about the upcoming Congress and President Barrow’s desire to be elected.
It has been gathered that the UDP constituency Chairmen, Chairwomen and NAM members are part of team covertly propagating Barrow’s desire to run for Congress. Some members of team Barrow within the UDP, have been placed on monthly allowances. Some are currently earning nothing less than D10,000 dalasis, sources said.


The UDP Leader Ousainou Darboe, who is also Gambia’s Vice President, is currently away from the country. He is in Norway together with Trade Minister Amadou Sanneh to attend a conference. Yusupha Sanneh and his delegation left for the provinces the very day Darboe and co departed for Norway.
During a recent political rally, marking UDP’s 20 years in existence, Darboe claimed that there were some folks in his party, going around the provinces telling UDP Chairmen and Chairwomen that he (Darboe) was the one denying them to be paid monthly salary. Darboe said since the inception of the UDP, none of the party’s leadership receive remuneration for their services. Hence, he warned such folks, to desist from what he called such divisive dirty politics. He also admitted that there is division within his party.
Mr. Barrow and his team are targeting the UDP delegates, who are qualified to vote in the upcoming Congress. “All these guys are saying that they will take the money and then vote for Darboe in the Congress,” a source close to the UDP leadership told this medium.
“The National Assembly Member for Busumbala Constituency Hon. Saikouba Jarju, is one of the renegade NAMS, who is working with the Barrow Youth Movement. Barrow is trying to bribe his way to the party’s leadership,” our source alleged.
Barrow’s team could not be reached for their side of the story at the time of going to press.

October 4th, 2018, Freedom Newspaper