Yankuba Darboe, the director general of GRA, has publicly refuted claims made by Bubacarr “Bob” Keita that he had a heated phone exchange with President Adama Barrow over criticism of a possible third-term bid.

In a statement, Darboe—who facilitated the call between the two—described Keita’s version of events as a “deliberate distortion of the truth” and emphasized that the conversation took place in his presence at his home, where Keita had come to seek reconciliation with the president.

Darboe explained that he only met Keita last year following Keita’s marriage to his younger sister, Fatoumatta Darboe. He said Keita expressed a desire to mend relations with the president, prompting Darboe to place a call to Barrow and pass the phone to Keita after explaining the situation.

“At no point during the conversation were Ousmane Sonko, Senegalese politics, or insults toward Bob Keita’s parents mentioned,” Darboe stated, adding that President Barrow graciously accepted Keita’s apology and later said no further meeting was necessary.

“I swear by the Holy Quran that no such statements were made by the President,” Darboe affirmed. “To twist this act of grace into a tale of intimidation is dishonest and untrue.”

Darboe said he informed Keita the next day that the president had forgiven him. The Office of the President has not commented on either statement.