By Lamin Cham
The Banjul Bureau of the United Democratic Party yesterday deferred selection of its candidate for Mayor to Sunday February 4 after the two aspirants, Rohey Malick Lowe and Adama Kelepha Samba failed to come to a concession as to who will run.
The two aspirants and their officials were engaged in closed-door negotiations watched by the UDP Banjul Bureau and senior party officials so as to achieve unanimity but having failed to secure that, the Party has now moved to the next stage of the process which is the primaries on Feb 4.
Addressing the gathering the Chairman of the UDP Banjul region, Mansa Ndow announced that February 4 will be the definitive day for the selection and urged all aspirants and their supporters to remain united and faithful to the party.
Aja Yam Secka, the deputy leader of the United Democratic Party congratulated both aspirants and reminded them that they belong to a single unit and that both of them must work for the interest of the party and not against it.
She reminded the gathering that the UDP as a family must work to ensure that the mayoral seat is secured for the party. She lamented the failure of the party to win seats in the last national assembly election, urging the supporters to change that history by remaining united and voting massively for the party. These sentiments were reechoed by Aja Yamundow Yabou, the deputy national president for the UDP.
Both aspirants Samba and Lowe pledged that they will support each other regardless of who eventually gets selected by the party. Samba said he has always maintained that if not selected he will automatically back Rohey. In her turn, Rohey Lowe said she will be even more committed to the party no matter the outcome of the primaries. She advised the UDP to open up and embrace members from other parties in the city to ensure victory.
The process was coordinated by Momodou Lamin Bah deputising for the secretary general of the bureau.
Meanwhile The Standard has been reliably informed hat seven aspirants have been shortlisted by the UDP in the KMC ahead of their primaries also slated for February 4.
