Politics

Darboe Slams Tambajang Over ‘Deceitful’ Claims, Reveals Real Reason Behind Her Ouster

United Democratic Party (UDP) leader Ousainou Darboe has dismissed claims by former Vice President Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang that Gambia’s constitution was amended to allow him to become vice president, describing the allegation as “most deceitful.”

He also revealed explosive details about why Tambajang was later removed from her post, accusing her of overstepping her authority and creating tension within the government.

Tambajang made the claim in an interview on West Coast Radio, suggesting the constitutional amendment that removed the age limit for president and vice president was crafted to favor Darboe. Speaking on the same station’s Coffee Time with Peter Gomez, Darboe strongly refuted the allegation.

“The matter that really embarrasses me is her allegation that the constitution was changed to suit me,” Darboe said. “How on earth can she really say that amendment was done for me?”

According to Darboe, the amendment was part of the coalition’s agreed reform agenda, which included scrapping the age limit, introducing term limits, and implementing the 50% plus one requirement for presidential elections.

“I could have loved President Barrow to appoint me, but she [Tambajang] was the first beneficiary of that amendment,” he added, stressing that the law came into effect while he was Foreign Affairs Minister. “Even the current vice president benefited from that amendment.”

Darboe also recalled how he stood by Tambajang when her nomination as vice president faced internal resistance.

“People were ganging up by going to the Gambia Revenue Authority to pull out her TIN number to establish that her age was over and she couldn’t be vice president,” he said. “I supported her because of respect for her late husband.”

However, the UDP leader went further, explaining the circumstances that led to Tambajang’s removal.

“When I first heard the rumours about her actions and that she also signed a letter as acting president, I went to her office and asked her if they were true,” Darboe revealed. “She denied it, saying some people were trying to discredit her.”

According to Darboe, Tambajang began overstepping her mandate, interfering in ministries outside her portfolio.

“There was an issue between Madam Tambajang and Bai Lamin Jobe. Bai Lamin came to me asking me to talk to my wife (Tambajang),” Darboe said. “She was trying to meddle in matters relating to the Gambia Ports Authority. I told her, ‘What does this have to do with your portfolio?’”

When host Peter Gomez asked if such involvement was part of the vice president’s role, Darboe replied bluntly:

“No, that’s not the role the vice president should perform.”

Darboe further revealed that the same people ganging up cautioned President Adama Barrow about appointing Tambajang in the first place, citing her past dismissal by former President Yahya Jammeh as Minister of Health.

“They told the president this woman was dismissed by Jammeh when she was Health Minister,” Darboe said. “That was why she couldn’t be appointed as vice president because that’s a public office.”

He also explained the legal context, noting that ministers cannot sue for unlawful dismissal.

“I asked the president, ‘If you sack me as Foreign Minister, can I sue you for unlawful dismissal?’ He said no. I told him that rule applies to civil and public servants, not ministers.”

Tambajang, who played a key role in the 2016 coalition that ended Jammeh’s 22-year rule, was appointed vice president in 2017 but was removed in 2018 under unclear circumstances until now.

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