The announcement was made by the party’s national live president, Dembo ‘Byforce’ Bojang at the party’s non-elective congress held over the weekend in the Lower Region town of Soma.
The event was graced by hundreds of sympathisers and delegates including executive of the governing National People’s Party (NPP). However, this non-elective congress serves an opportunity for the party leader to call on party supporters to move forward together, with renewed vigour, optimism, and firmness of purpose to build a Gambia that stands tall as a haven of peace, hope, progress, and unity.
Addressing a jam-packed crown at the party bureau, Dembo Bojang while thanking Gambians for their efforts, also recalled the negative attributes directed at Adama Barrow while assuming power with others directing all sort of remarks at him including being un-educated.
With these negative assumptions in mind especially among his political opponents, Dembo Byforce maintained that some even questioned how he would govern a country, forgetting the will of Almighty God.
In this vein, the Bakau veteran politician maintained that in every position that a person is destined is to achieve, is easily accomplished without any hitches.
With his vast experience in politics spanning over 40 years, Dembo Byforce as widely referred to acknowledged that he still doesn’t lack the foresight to judge or assess the capability of a person.
To this end, he said, he (Dembo Bojang) alongside another veteran Gambian politician, Majanko Samusa of the People Progress Party, are the ones who identified Adama Barrow as president in view of the qualities they saw in him.
‘He (Adama Barrow) has never betrayed this country and his good development initiatives are unprecedented even during the colonial period to first and second republics.’
The veteran Gambian politician equally made reference to the good road infrastructures in the country as oppose to daily nightmare people in the country then faced especially in moving from one end to another.
He referenced that now one can leave Bakau in the morning and have a lunch in Basse in the Upper River Region or vice versa. This, he said, is due to the dynamic and visionary leadership of President Adama Barrow.
He also pointed out the fact that in those days, especially civil servants, find it difficult in collecting their salaries due to the deplorable nature of roads and means to move about.
This, he added, even forced some to resort to using donkey carts as a means to travel to collect their salaries especially those in far-flung communities.
Commenting in the area of education, he said the number of schools being built in this country is unprecedented, further declaring that as party national president from today, he crowned, Adama Barrow, NPP candidate in the 2026 president election.
“Whether he likes it or not, I am his elder and we’ve chosen him.” As the announcement was made, NPP delegates and party supporters erupts into celebration and applause, ending uncertainty of whether or not he will stand as a candidate in the 2026 presidential election.
In his congress statement, Adama Barrow, secretary general and now NPP flagbearer in the 2026 presidential election, first extended thanks and appreciation to the NPP Executive and every person whose loyalty he said has contributed to the dynamism of the party in one way or another.
“Similar thanks are particularly due to all our tireless militants, regional and sub-regional leaders, supporters, and all those who continue to toil with determination behind the scenes to promote our agenda. Your sacrifices form the bedrock of our success,” he stated.
To this end, Barrow expressed his gratitude to the entire NPP membership for the special privilege and extraordinary honour of leading this transformative political family.
“Together, we have honourably changed The Gambia’s political terrain, with the noble values of tolerance, transparency, democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human and people’s rights. These are the cherished universal values we fought for, and they will continue to define the character and attitude of our party.”
In appreciation also, he also pay respects to the political parties that have partnered with them, both in times of ease and difficulty, reminding that this congress provides an opportunity for him to acknowledge the trust repose in him and support for his government.
“Together with the people of this nation, you have elevated me to the highest office of the land, and your resilience continues to accompany us on our shared and sacred journey of progress and development.”
Welcoming the delegates and other dignitaries, Omar Drammeh, regional chairman Lower River Region, while extending appreciation to various districts within the region for their efforts in hosting the efforts, also called on NPP members to maintain perseverance, unity and work towards realising the vision of their leader, who, he said, is committed to the development of this country.
Others speaker, which, Maimuna Baldeh, national women’s mobiliser, Kebba Madi Bojang, national president and Majanko Samusa of the NCP and on behalf of partner parties, all expressed similar sentiments. The congress was also witnessed by representatives of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
