The ruling National People’s Party congress has been put on hold for hours amid complaint of interference by president Adama Barrow.

Barrow, the party’s leader and secretary general, drove from Banjul to the congress venue at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara conference centre in Bijilo this afternoon (28 December). 

Gambiana has been told by some delegates and supporters that President Barrow has summoned Suku Singhateh in an attempt to convince him to withdraw from contesting for the party’s first deputy president.

Suku Singhateh was contesting against Dr Demba Sabally who has been holding the same position since the party was formed in 2019.

Sources close to the party told Gambiana that a candidate seeking to contest against Maimuna Baldeh is also being asked to withdraw. 

“That will not happen here. Why would some positions be contested and others would not be? 

“Even if anyone stands to contest against Barrow to lead the party shoud be respected. That’s democracy,” one of the NPP supporters told Gambiana.

“If that’s the case then there will not be election today,” another NPP supporter added.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba