By: Momodou Gagigo
The political row in Foni Jarrol has intensified after Momodou A. Bah, a former independent candidate from Jonkell village, strongly rejected allegations of orchestrating voter importation, describing them as fabricated and politically motivated.
Hon. Kebba Toumanding Sanneh, the sitting NAM for Foni Jarrol, had earlier accused Bah of illegally transporting non-residents into villages such as Kamambu (Kamamudou) and Wassadou to register as voters ahead of the 2027 elections. Sanneh claimed the move violated Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) rules and warned that such actions could force others to respond in kind.
In a detailed rebuttal, Bah dismissed the claims as “false and baseless,” accusing the NAM of immaturity and desperation stemming from fear of losing his seat.
“I facilitated the movement of people from my village and surrounding villages like Kampassa and Kamamudou who are residing in the urban centres to go and register at their native communities,” Bah stated. “These are eligible Gambians who possess valid citizenship documents — NIN or birth certificates or both.”
Bah insisted that all individuals involved were either born and raised in Foni Jarrol villages or are direct descendants of families from the area who chose to register in their ancestral homes.
He further alleged that his own biological daughter was denied an Alkalo’s attestation in Wassadou — Hon. Sanneh’s village — by the acting Alkalo, despite confirmation from witnesses, including a former classroom teacher.
Bah attributed the refusal to direct influence from the NAM.
According to Bah, Hon. Sanneh was not present during the registration exercise and relied on informants to spread “fabricated stories” aimed at tarnishing the image of perceived political threats.
“He belongs to the splinter group ‘No-to-Alkiance’, which is not a recognized political party by the IEC,” Bah noted. “He has deployed so-called party agents in polling stations to intimidate people seen as belonging to opposing camps.”
Bah traced Sanneh’s discomfort to the 2022 elections, when divisions within the NPP and APRC allowed the “No-to-Alkiance” group to win with a minority vote. He predicted this mistake would not be repeated, describing the NAM as “desperate, paranoid, and disgruntled.”
The former independent candidate warned that Sanneh’s statements were a calculated attempt to create uncertainty in Foni Jarrol for self-centered political interests.
“I hereby request an apology from Hon. Kebba Toumanding Sanneh for giving the public false and misleading information about me,” Bah concluded. “This is an attempt to discredit the most formidable candidate who can unseat him in the 2027 NAM elections.”
The exchange highlights deepening divisions in Foni Jarrol as voter registration continues nationwide. While the IEC has issued no official statement on the specific claims, the back-and-forth underscores growing concerns over transparency and trust in the electoral process in rural constituencies.
Political observers say such public confrontations risk further polarizing communities ahead of the polls. Both sides have now presented sharply contrasting narratives, leaving residents and electoral authorities to sift through the claims as the election season gathers momentum.
