Marie Barrow, once a rising organiser within the National People’s Party (NPP) in Wuli East, has crossed over to the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) with 27 supporters.
The group was received Monday morning at the UDP bureau in Wuli East, adding new energy to the party’s efforts ahead of next year’s national vote.
Barrow, who previously aligned herself with both the Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC) and later the ruling party, said she left the NPP after losing confidence in its leadership. She pointed to what she described as unmet development pledges and a pattern of shutting out local voices.
“I could no longer stay silent while decisions were made without listening to the people of Sutukonding,” she said, explaining her decision to move with a group that includes women’s wing figures and youth activists from the Lower River Region.
UDP spokesperson in the region Lamin Darboe welcomed the defectors and said their move reflects deeper frustrations within the ruling coalition. He argued that the party’s doors remain open to Gambians who want a stronger say in national affairs.
“Their courage shows the tide is turning,” Darboe said. He added that he expects the NPP to dismiss the shift as opportunistic but insisted the concerns raised by Barrow and her team are real and widely shared.
The UDP is expected to build on the momentum from this latest development as political parties prepare for what is shaping up to be a competitive election year.
