Africa-Press – Gambia. Lawyer Lamin J. Darbo, a United Democratic Party (UDP) flagbearer aspirant, has denounced the rise of insults and hostile exchanges within the party, urging leadership to introduce sanctions against perpetrators.
Darbo expressed concern over supporters targeting fellow members online, particularly in the context of the party’s ongoing flagbearer race.
“You cannot have your supporters whose identities are known insulting other members of the party over a simple thing like flagbearer. The people who usually do these things are the people supporting the party leaders,” he said.
He stressed that civility should define political discourse, pointing to Mayor Talib Bensouda’s recent resignation statement, which underscored the importance of respectful engagement.
Darbo questioned the dismissive attitude sometimes directed at members voicing dissent. “Why is it important for Mayor Bensouda to talk about civility? Because people would say, ‘Who are you? If you want to apply, find your own party.’ But we all contributed to this party. Telling people to go form their own party implies they are second-class members. And if they dare to challenge the party leader, they are insulted online,” he argued.
Highlighting the recurring nature of such behavior, he posed a broader question: “Who owns the UDP? That is what we have to ask ourselves. We need to come out of this.”
While acknowledging that the UDP leader has cautioned supporters against insults, Darbo said stronger measures are required. “The party should not stop at merely discouraging insults. There must be sanctions for those who engage in such behavior,” he insisted.
He emphasized that discipline is necessary to protect the integrity of the party’s democratic process. “It is very disconcerting to have people, for no reason at all, going online insulting others simply because they express their political right to seek the UDP flagbearership,” Darbo said.
For More News And Analysis About Gambia Follow Africa-Press
