Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda has advised President Adama Barrow to step down from power and allow another candidate within the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) to lead the party into the next election.

Speaking on Coffee Times, Bensouda said Barrow should “seal his legacy” by not attempting to continue in office.

“What I am telling President Barrow is seal your legacy, don’t even attempt,” he said.

Bensouda warned that even trying and losing would still damage the president’s reputation, insisting that a leader’s legacy is shaped by key decisions rather than effort.

“Even if you attempt and lose, it is still the same bad President. You don’t leave a good legacy because you have tried,” he added.

The KMC mayor cited Senegal as an example, referencing former president Abdoulaye Wade and outgoing president Macky Sall, arguing that attempts linked to political continuation often end badly.

“We have seen it with Abdoulie Wada, he tried and failed and we have seen it Macky Sall, he tried a pseudo candidate and failed,” he said.

Bensouda urged Barrow to choose a successor from within the NPP, including the vice president, and allow the person to go through party primaries.

“Do the right thing, step down, pick somebody in your party, pick the vice president,” he said.

He claimed the ruling party has many capable individuals who could lead, saying: “You have many people who are educated than the president.”

Bensouda’s remarks come amid growing political debate over succession and leadership transition ahead of the next election cycle.

By Adama Makasuba