Ousainou Darboe, leader of the opposition UDP, has clarified that his birth name is Abubacarr and his adoption of it has nothing to do with improving his image ahead of the December 4 presidential election.

Darboe told supporters at a rally in 

Sukuta on Saturday that his father gave him the name Abubacarr at birth and his mother gave him the middle name Ousainou as a tribute to a friend with the same name. 

“Wollahi, it’s my father who named me Abubacarr. My mother had a friend whose name is Ousainou and she said she would name me Ousainou. 

“And you know the name that goes viral is the one adopted by women. But if people are worried and think that is the name that will disqualify me from getting nominated, let them go and look into the constitution, let them go to the Elections Act and see what disqualifies one from getting nominated.”

Darboe, who wants Gambians to elect him as the next president, added “you came here to show your love to Gambia, your love for UDP and your love for Alhagie Abubacarr Numukunda Baro Ousainou Darboe, Barrister at Law.”

He said all his official documents had Abubacarr as his first name.

“If you go to WAEC in 1966 when we took our GCE you will find Abubacarr written in the certificate. 

“If you go to Gambia High School register when Mr Forbes was there, the name you will find there is Abubacarr. 

“If you go to St Augustine’s when Fr Cleary was principal, the name in the register is Abubacarr.”

“If you go to Nigeria at the court where I took the wig it’s Abubacarr Numukunda Darboe [name] that is written there.”