Speaking to The Standard over the weekend, Mr Darboe said: “Come 2016, you will see a candidate more formidable than myself. I can assure you that. UDP is not a party that is individual-based, or personality-based. It is a party that has deep roots throughout the country. We have membership both within and outside the country, from the ranks of which we have very formidable candidates.”
The lawyer-cum-politician is more than 65 years, which according to the laws of The Gambia, disqualifies him from contesting the presidency, something he called “abominable”. Asked to give names of such “formidable candidates” within his party ranks that are capable of succeeding him as new candidate, Darboe maintained: “Let me just say that we have members from the senior executive who are capable of succeeding me – both from outside the country and those that are here. I do not wish to mention any names…
Asked why he isn’t willing to reveal such names, the UDP leader said: “Because that may jeopardise their positions… take for example, one of our very promising members: Word was going around that he is a possible successor; you have seen how the criminal justice system has been misused to get at him,” he said, referring to Amadou Sanneh, a chartered accountant and an executive member of the UDP who was convicted of issuing supporting documents to asylum seekers.
“We do not want that to happen to others. Obviously he [Amadou Sanneh] has all the ingredients [to become my successor as presidential candidate]… Yes, I can tell you that [… his conviction] has something to do with it,” said Darboe.
The UDP leader who ran four times against President Jammeh and lost described the current political environment as “very hostile”.
By Sanna Camara
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