Momodou Sabally, the former United Democratic Party (UDP) campaign manager who defected to President Adama Barrow’s National People’s Party (NPP) in December 2023, has publicly apologized for his past criticisms of the president.
In an interview on Coffee Time with Peter Gomez on West Coast Radio, Sabally, now a Special Adviser to Barrow, expressed regret for his harsh rhetoric, admitting he was misled by UDP narratives that painted Barrow as an incompetent leader.
“I was in UDP. They said all sorts of things about President Barrow,” Sabally said during the interview. “A lot was said about the president, and it actually convinced me that this guy was not up to no good, that this guy was not competent, that this guy doesn’t have the interest of the country at heart. From afar, I took it. Now I’ve come in. I found out it is not true. So I regret all those statements I unfairly launched at him, and I thank him for his patience, his tolerance, and his accommodation.”
Sabally, known for his fiery critiques during his UDP tenure, including accusations of corruption within Barrow’s administration, described a stark contrast between the UDP’s portrayal of Barrow and his personal experience after joining the NPP.
He praised Barrow’s forgiving nature, recounting how the president welcomed him warmly without dwelling on past conflicts. “Because of President Barrow’s nature, he received me with open arms. He didn’t even show me the face that ‘this is what you did,'” Sabally noted. He recalled instances where Barrow remained cordial despite political tensions, such as when Sabally persuaded his NPP member sister to join the UDP.
“President Barrow drove past my street, lowered his window, and said good morning. He’s a good, decent, accommodating, peaceful person.”
The former opposition figure also spotlighted the UDP, urging the party to address its internal issues before criticizing the government. “Let UDP clean their internal mess rather than pointing fingers at others,” Sabally said, referencing alleged financial mismanagement within the party. “Let him account for the 22 to 30,000,000 that was misappropriated by the national organizing secretary first before they ask for accountability in government.”
Sabally’s defection to the NPP and his appointment as a presidential adviser have been contentious, given his history as a minister under ex-President Yahya Jammeh and his subsequent ban from public office by the Janneh Commission for financial misconduct.
His recent role as the NPP’s Deputy National Campaign Manager, appointed in April 2025, signals his growing influence within Barrow’s camp as the 2026 election approaches.
The interview sparked varied reactions. NPP supporters lauded Sabally’s candor, with some citing his apology as proof of Barrow’s unifying leadership. UDP members, however, expressed skepticism, with one Banjul-based supporter calling Sabally’s shift “a betrayal of principle.”
Political analysts note that Sabally’s public regret could bolster the NPP’s narrative of inclusivity while highlighting divisions within the opposition.
As The Gambia navigates its political landscape, Sabally’s journey from critic to ally underscores the complexities of loyalty and redemption in a nation striving for unity.
