The Minister of Transport, Works and Infrastructure, Ebrima Sillah, has declared that President Adama Barrow will not only contest in the 2026 presidential election but will win.
Speaking over the weekend during a gathering in Brusubi, Minister Sillah dismissed any suggestion that Barrow might not seek re-election as unserious and out of touch with political reality.
“Anyone who says that President Adama Barrow will not contest in 2026 elections, that person must be joking,” Sillah told a crowd of National People’s Party (NPP) supporters. “We have prepared for his candidacy, and by the grace of Allah, he will be the winner.”
Minister Sillah’s comments come amid growing speculation about potential opposition alliances and questions over President Barrow’s future political plans. Sillah used the occasion to rally support for the NPP and to urge supporters to remain focused on the government’s development agenda.
He accused critics particularly those active on social media of trying to downplay the government’s achievements. “Much of the commotion is to keep the good work of the president under the carpet so that people will not know the work that the president did for this country. That will never happen,” he said.
Addressing the rise in political commentary online, the minister dismissed its influence, saying, “Social media will not vote in this country. The people sitting in this country are the ones to vote. So focus on President Adama Barrow’s agenda, his party, and listen to the people that work with him.”
On the topic of national stability, Minister Sillah was direct. He warned that the NPP is prepared to respond if any group attempts to incite unrest. Referring to recent protests and calls for demonstrations, he said the ruling party would not sit idly by.
“There were people who came out with the intention to destabilise this country,” he said. “But we in the NPP will also go out ‘Coalition protest Democracy’ if that were to happen. We will seek a permit and lead the youth. The streets do not belong to anybody.”
He added: “Whoever thinks that he can cause chaos in this country, you are fooling yourself, because NPP will not concede a centimeter of this country to anybody. We will defend the democracy of this country and the government of the country. That has to be clear to everyone.”
While acknowledging the constitutional right to peaceful protest, Sillah warned that demonstrations aimed at undermining national stability would be resisted.
“We fought for 22 years to ensure that we have democracy in this country. Whoever thinks that he can sit at a public gathering and destabilise it, we will not allow that,” he said.
Turning to the local communities of Brufut, Sukuta, and Wullinkama, Minister Sillah called for unity and highlighted ongoing infrastructure projects. He noted that further development is contingent on continuity of leadership and urged residents to support President Barrow’s re-election bid.
In a sharp critique of political opponents, Sillah questioned the judgment of those who, according to him, make threats of imprisonment and exile before even assuming power.
“Follow the agenda of President Adama Barrow, which is best for all of you not the parties that are yet to assume power and go on radios telling people that when they come to power, they will send people to Guinea, or jail particular people and their families. If those people assume power, how will this country be?” he asked.
