UDP elects chairpersons in NBR, WCR

By Omar Bah The United Democratic Party has now completed regional elective congresses in West Coast and North Bank regions ahead of the national congress in December. In the West Coast where initial attempts to hold the congress were disrupted by a splinter group, delegates converged again on Saturday and reelected Yusupha Cham as chairman. Mr Cham described his re-election as a proof of his loyalty to the party, after rumours that he is in the “emerging camp” of President Adama Barrow. Mr Cham’s election was marred with controversy as hundreds of UDP supporters stormed the Brikama Youth Center on Saturday to show their disapproval of the congress. The angry supporters who were denied entry into the premises by PIU officers were heard chanting “Ousainu Darboe betrayed us” in the local Mandinka dialect, a reflection of strong feelings that there exist Darboe and Barrow camps in the party. But according to Yusupha Cham any rumour disputing his disloyalty to the UDP has been proven as a lie by the electorate. He said his next mission as chairman is to ensure that he reunites the UDP supporters in the West Coast Region “but I want to emphasize that there are no fractions in the party.” Meanwhile in North Bank Region, the UDP regional congress went very peaceful with Karamo Jadama elected as chairman]]>