Expelled UDP NAM says party is sinking

Saikou Marong, the National Assembly Member (NAM) for Latrikunda Sabaji said the decision of the United Democratic Party (UDP) to expel him and seven other lawmakers was entirely politically motivated, arguing that the UDP is dying and will soon be buried.

“The entire decision of the UDP I can tell you is based on political issues, because they believe that we are the one supporting President Adama Barrow. Trust me, if I tell you the party is dying they will not believe me but the truth is UDP is dying and they will be disappointed. What they believe is that we don’t have any influence but the way things are going they will be soon be buried,” he told The Point in an interview yesterday.

The Latrikunda Sabaji lawmaker said he is yet receive any expulsion letter from the party. “If the party has an agenda different from the national agenda, then I am not going to follow that agenda. I will only follow the national agenda. I’m a genuine Gambian so I will not follow or support any other agenda that is different from the national agenda.”

Omar Darboe, the NAM for Upper Nuimi said the decision of the UDP to expel him from the party did not surprise him, while describing the party’s decision as entirely based on politics. “We know that there are some ‘elements’ within UDP who wanted to use us for their individuals political gains of which we don’t support and obviously we know they will expel us,” he stated.

He added: “I am telling you that the decision of the party is based on politic. There is nothing about national issues and if there was national interest, I don’t think they will have problem with the President who used to be in the UDP party.