By Ousman Saidykhan
The nomination process for the April 26th by-election in Half-Die ward kicked off this morning, with the National People’s Party (NPP) aspirant, Barthalomy Colley, popularly known as “Bolo,” expressing strong confidence in securing a victory. Colley, who submitted his nomination papers to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), asserted that he is the most competent candidate among the three vying for the councillorship seat. He believes the people of Half-Die recognize his ability to address their needs.
“Because they know that I’m the competent candidate for them. I understand them in Half-Die, and I know their problems. So they know I can solve their problems,” Colley told journalists shortly after submitting his documents to the IEC.
Dressed in all white, Colley appeared calm yet focused as IEC officials reviewed his paperwork, signing and stamping several documents. He was informed that his nomination status would be confirmed after verification. The by-election aims to replace former NPP councilor Momodou Bah, who absconded following an official trip to Belgium in 2023, triggering the vacancy under Section 23 of the Local Government Act.
As he arrived at the nomination grounds, Colley was joined by prominent NPP figures, including Seedy S.K. Njie, Seedy Ceesay, Dudou Sanno, and Lamin K. Saidy. His supporters, predominantly youth and women in white shirts, turned the event into a lively affair, chanting, clapping, and dancing to an NPP song while holding up pictures of their candidate.
“Coming here and seeing a lot of people coming with you is something very great, and I think it shows that they really want me as their candidate. That is what is giving me strength each day,” Colley said, visibly buoyed by the enthusiastic turnout.
While confident of victory, Colley urged Half-Die residents to turn out in large numbers on election day to vote for him, emphasizing his desire to work closely with the community. Seedy S.K. Njie, a senior NPP official, echoed this optimism, stating, “We are hopeful that we will receive an emphatic victory on the 26th of April because it is a stronghold of the NPP.”
The NPP’s Banjul chairman, Ousman Wadda, also threw his weight behind Colley, describing him as a standout youth deeply engaged in community activities. “He is involved in all the community activities,” Wadda said. “We were lucky to have ‘Bolo,’ or else we would have struggled for this election.”
The People’s Alliance Party (PAP) and People’s Progressive Party (PPP) are also in the race, with their nominations scheduled for tomorrow and the following day, respectively. The by-election follows Bah’s overwhelming win in the 2023 council election, where he secured 63.90% of the vote, before failing to return from a partnership trip between Banjul City Council and Ostend City Council in Belgium.
As the nomination process unfolds, all eyes are on Half-Die ward to see if Colley’s confidence and the NPP’s stronghold status will hold on April 26th.
