Sources close to UDP executive member Aboulie Suku Singhateh have debunked widespread rumours that he has decamped to President Barrow’s NPP.
Last night NPP supporters circulated a group picture on social media featuring Mr Singhateh standing with President Barrow surrounded by some NPP stalwarts, claiming that he has now joined the NPP. Also, a video was circulated of Mr Singhateh being embraced by NPP stalwarts at the ceremony.
In the video, a mildly amused Mr Singhateh was heard telling a persistent NPP media interviewer that he went to the ceremony because he received an invitation and also because he had background knowledge of the project when he was in Ecowas Parliament. “That is why I came to attend,” Singhateh told NPP media.
The picture and video were taken at the Sir Dawda Jawara Conference Centre where President Barrow presided over the launching of an agriculture project.
When contacted last night for clarification, Mr Singhateh said he would clear the air tomorrow but referred us to an interview with him carried in The Standard on January 6th where he was discussing the Africa Free Trade Zone agreement as a former member of the Customs, Trade and Free Movement of Peoples and Goods at the Ecowas Parliament. He gave no further details.
However, a prominent UDP supporter close to the former parliamentarian said Mr Singhateh went to the meeting in his capacity as former Ecowas parliamentarian and had not at any point stated that he had joined the NPP. “Before he left for the launching, he already briefed the UDP leader about it and was given the all-clear to attend. There is no truth in the rumour of his reported cross-carpeting,” our source said.
