Busumbala
Constituency National Assembly Member Saikouba Jarju has said at a press
conference with journalists that the United Democratic Party (UDP) as a
political party has no sponsored independent candidate in Busumbala
constituency.
Facing
the press at the UDP Political Bureau in Lamin on Sunday to clarify claims that
defeated candidate during the party’s primaries, Borry Ceesay will be
contesting as a UDP independent candidate in the forthcoming election.
Jarju
said he stood by the certified and nominated candidate by the party because
there is no UDP independent candidate in Banjulinding Ward. “Those going round claiming that there is a
UDP independent candidate, I want to clear their minds that there is no UDP
independent candidate”, he said.
According
to him, as party executives and true supporters within the constituency, they
will never support any independent candidate but will campaign for Abie Bangura
and no other person else within the ward.
He
said anyone claiming that he is a UDP independent candidate is not supporting
the addenda of the party but himself.
He
pointed out that the Constitution teaches that no political party should be
formed or a candidate should vie for election in the name of religion, tribe,
sector, region or village but Jarju said Ceesay and his followers are claiming
that it is Busubala that decided his candidature.
“UDP
only have two candidates that will contest within Busumbala constituency who
are Mbemba Touray for Lamin Ward and Abie Bangura for Banjulanding Ward”, he
said, while calling on UDP supporters to vote for Abie Bangura and not Borry
Ceesay.
He
said if Ceesay were loyal to the party, there is no reason for him to contest
as an independent candidate, saying he is not loyal to UDP and was supporting
the party for his own interest.
Jarju
said Ceesay has his own symbol and flag attached to UDP flag and registered
with IEC as an independent candidate and he has been going on a house to house
meeting with people telling them that he is contesting as UDP independent.
Alagie
Kanyi, UDP Busumbala Constituency propaganda secretary explained that 33
delegates were selected from Lamin and Banjulanding wards each during the
primary election in which Borry Ceesay lost to Abie Bangura.
He
said prior to the primaries, they asked Borry and Abie to negotiate for one of
them to give chance to the other but they decided they want to go for primaries
after consulting between themselves. “During the process, Abie Bangura was
victorious and Borry Ceesay accepted defeat and congratulated her and promised
to work with her but two days later, Mr. Ceesay and his gang lodged a complaint
that the election was not fair.”