#Headlines

Barrow’s political adviser accused of assaulting GDC candidate

Apr 11, 2023, 11:28 AM | Article By: Pa Modou Cham

Dou Sanno, President Adama Barrow’s political adviser has been accused of slapping the Gambia Democratic Party’s (GDC) candidate for Julangel Ward, Ebrima Manneh, after an altercation.

A statement released by the GDC under the leadership of Mamma Kandeh alleged that the GDC Campaign team met NPP’s team on the ground canvassing votes along with the Jimara Chief, Kanamang Sanneh and Dou Sanno. 

“Dou Sanno disregards our campaign itinerary which led to a heated debate and claimed that he is unaware that GDC should hold political activities in the village.”

“It is sad to have such an individual who we addressed as a Presidential adviser. We can all agree how the presidency is destroyed as a result of having the wrong people in the wrong position,” the party stated.

The party further explained that after winning the 2018 Local Government Election in Julagel Ward, a similar problem happened which resulted in the “locking-up of the elders of Jimara and former parliamentarian Hon. Alhagie H Sowe.”

“Dou Sanno's action is an insult to the office of the president and a violation of the NPP Campaign itinerary.”

Speaking to Kerr Fatou, Dou Sanno stated that: “I have seen their press release, but their statement is false. I only pushed his phone that he was using to take a video of me, but I am not aware of slapping anyone unless they sent Jinns to slap.”

However, Alkalo Bambayel Mballow, on King FM, refutes claims made by Dou Sanno that he was invited to the village while confirming Sanno’s assault on the GDC candidate.

Alhagie Sowe, the former Jimara lawmaker condemns the incident and thus calls on the authorities to immediately investigate the matter while ensuring that the culprit is brought to justice. He said that such incidents shouldn't go unpunished." 

“We will not allow politics of intimidation in Jimara again. It is the same tactics Dou Sanno and others used during the last National Assembly election in 2018 and they want to repeat the same tactics,” he stated.

Sowe urged the IEC to do the needful things in addressing the incident, saying NPP shouldn’t go to the village. He said GDC was supposed to have a meeting on the same day.