Senior members of the National People’s Party (NPP) have reportedly been wooing Mayor Talib Bensouda following his dramatic withdrawal from the United Democratic Party (UDP) flagbearer race.

However, Talib continues to face sharp criticism from one of the NPP’s prominent figures, Momodou Sabally.

The tension appears to go beyond politics: Sabally was banned from holding public office for ten years by an inquiry where Talib’s mother served as lead counsel. This personal history has intensified Sabally’s animosity toward Talib.

The central question now is whether Sabally and Talib can coexist under the same political umbrella despite this friction.

Sabally has long accused Talib of plotting to oust Lawyer Ousainou Darboe from party leadership, frequently sharing satirical content targeting him.

These claims have been indirectly supported by some UDP leaders, including Yankuba Darboe, who publicly vowed to quit the party if Talib were chosen to lead, describing him as worse than President Adama Barrow.

With increasing calls for Talib to join President Barrow’s “breakless bus,” all eyes are on him. Will he heed these calls and leave UDP for the NPP, stay within UDP, or go solo ahead of the 2026 elections?

By Adama Makasuba