Over 100 APRC Supporters Defect to Opposition-UDP


Wednesday, February 23, 2011
The exodus-like defection of political party supporters is no longer a one-way traffic as over one hundred former ruling party supporters in Kiang switched allegiance to the main opposition party.
The defection came as The Gambia’s largest opposition political party, United Democratic Party (UDP) recently embarked on a four-day tour in Kiang covering 33 villages.
The touring party, led by Momodou L K Sanneh, National Assembly member for Kiang west and leader of the opposition minority in the parliament was accorded a tumultuous welcome by the natives and held rousing political rallies, our correspondent says.
Mr Kebba Koto Colley, the ruling Alliance for Patriotism Reconciliation and Reconstruction (APRC) youth leader and over hundred youths in Burong village have announced their defection. Mr Fanding Kuta Darboe, also a ruling APRC staunch supporter in Dumbuto village has also joined the UDP.
The presidential election in The Gambia is expected to be held later this year and the country’s political temperature is rising, albeit slower than expected.
The military-turned civilian regime is seeking for the fourth mandate after three landslide election victories, which were generally deemed free and fair.
And there are clear signs that the ruling party is crusading to hold grip of Kiang – as evidenced, among others, by president Jammeh’s issuing of threat - which remains one of the few opposition strongholds.
However, the UDP Kiang West constituency chairman, Mr Lang Njie said Kiang remains loyal to the opposition dismissing reports that the ruling party has a larger following than the opposition.
“APRC will not survive in Kiang”, Mr Basiru Darboe, UDP constituency chairman in Dumbuto vowed.
And defected APRC youth leader, Mr Colley has promised to mobilise more youths to rally behind UDP.
He said he ceases to throw weight behind the ruling party following the kingship campaign being mounted by ruling party supporters led by traditional chiefs to transform The Gambia into a monarch.
Meanwhile, the meeting was generally peaceful except in Karantaba where the family members of the deputy minister of Agriculture, Mr Kalifa Kambi raged insults on the campaigners. They also used logs to block the vehicles from passing. The logs were taken and tendered at the police station Keneba as evidence.

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