By Modou Touray
Ebrima Nyang, Administrative Secretary of the Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC), has called on political parties allied with President Adama Barrow to withdraw from the ruling coalition, claiming their survival is at risk.
In a strongly worded statement, Nyang alleged that parties in alliance with the governing National People’s Party (NPP) are being sidelined and politically weakened.
“Barrow is killing your parties,” Nyang stated, urging coalition partners to “have respect for themselves and quit the coalition.”
His remarks came amid growing concerns within sections of allied parties about alleged unequal treatment. Nyang referenced recent public comments by the leader of the National Reconciliation Party (NRP), who reportedly expressed dissatisfaction over how his supporters are treated. He also cited similar concerns raised by an APRC youth mobilizer during an appearance on Star TV/FM’s “Wake Up Gambia” program.
Nyang further pointed to the recently launched 50 million dalasi Women Development Fund by the NPP, alleging that access to the fund is limited to women aligned with the ruling party, despite the existence of a coalition.
He argued that over the years, allied parties — including the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC), Citizens’ Alliance (CA), and the Gambia Party for Democracy and Progress (GPDP) — have been excluded from key development opportunities, including scholarships and other presidential initiatives.
According to Nyang, while coalition partners mobilize support during elections for the presidency, mayorships, and chairperson positions, the benefits of governance are allegedly concentrated within the NPP.
He warned that if the trend continues, smaller parties in the alliance risk losing their supporters, particularly youths and women, many of whom he claims are defecting to the NPP in search of better opportunities.
“Coalition should be inclusive in terms of development,” Nyang said, arguing that without fairness and shared benefits, allied parties may gradually lose their political relevance.
