{"id":89292,"date":"2025-11-03T18:06:22","date_gmt":"2025-11-03T18:06:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/uncategorized\/udp-bashes-bensoudas-false-claims"},"modified":"2025-11-03T18:35:06","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T18:35:06","slug":"udp-bashes-bensoudas-false-claims","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/udp-bashes-bensoudas-false-claims","title":{"rendered":"UDP Bashes Bensouda\u2019S \u2018False\u2019 Claims"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Gambia. <\/strong><\/span>The United Democratic Party issued a statement yesterday refuting remarks made by its former organising secretary, Kanifing mayor Talib Bensouda in a recent interview.<\/b><\/p>\n

It said the allegations regarding the UDP leader, Ousainu Darboe, and the internal processes of the party were \u201cfalse, misleading, and without basis\u201d.<\/p>\n

The statement read: \u201cBensouda alleged that the UDP leader sent a group of elders to persuade him to make a public declaration that he would not contest for the party\u2019s presidential flag-bearership if Mr Darboe decided to run.<\/p>\n

No such event ever occurred. The party leader has never instructed, directed, or requested any person or group to approach any member of the UDP, including Mayor Bensouda, to discourage them from contesting for the party\u2019s flag-bearership.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf any individual or group held such a meeting with Mayor Bensouda, they did so without the knowledge, consent, or authority of the party leader or the UDP National Executive Committee. The UDP\u2019s internal processes are guided strictly by the party\u2019s constitution, and the flag-bearer selection rules and guidelines which guarantee every eligible member the right to contest for any position, including that of party leader and presidential candidate.<\/p>\n

\u201cMayor Bensouda further claimed that he won the 2023 mayoral election as a \u2018coalition candidate\u2019 and not as a UDP candidate. This is false. The records of the Independent Electoral Commission clearly show that Bensouda was nominated and contested the 2023 election under the official ticket and symbol of the UDP.<\/p>\n

Similarly, when the UDP first introduced Talib Bensouda to the electorate in 2018, it was as a UDP candidate, and the party campaigned vigorously for him across the Kanifing Municipality. He won that election as a UDP candidate, supported by the collective effort, sacrifice, and commitment of ordinary party members and supporters.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn both 2018 and 2023, the UDP did not enter into any coalition agreement with any political party. However, as is common in democratic politics, other opposition parties, figures, and supporters had expressed endorsements for UDP candidates across the country, including Mayor Bensouda, but such endorsements did not constitute any formal coalition.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe UDP acknowledges the contributions of all its members, including Mayor Bensouda, to the growth of the party and to national development. However, it is important to emphasize that the UDP is bigger than any individual. The UDP was built on the blood, sweat, and tears of ordinary Gambians who have endured persecution, imprisonment, and hardship in defence of democracy, justice, and freedom. It is, therefore, deeply unfortunate and disappointing for any elected official who has benefitted from the party\u2019s goodwill and national support to dismiss or downplay the sacrifices of those who laid the foundation upon which they now stand.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe UDP will continue to uphold its principles of unity, democracy, discipline, and respect for all members, but it will not allow distortions of history or misrepresentation of facts to undermine the collective struggle and legacy of the party. The party will not be distracted by attempts to sow division or rewrite the truth. The UDP stands firm under the leadership of Ousainu Darboe, committed to the ideals of justice, equality, and service to the Gambian people.\u201d<\/p>\n

For More News And Analysis About Gambia<\/span> Follow Africa-Press<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Gambia. The United Democratic Party issued a statement yesterday refuting remarks made by its former organising secretary, Kanifing mayor Talib Bensouda in a recent interview. It said the allegations regarding the UDP leader, Ousainu Darboe, and the internal processes of the party were \u201cfalse, misleading, and without basis\u201d. The statement read: \u201cBensouda alleged […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":89290,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,10],"tags":[260],"class_list":["post-89292","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-parties","tag-gambia"],"yoast_head":"\nUDP Bashes Bensouda\u2019S \u2018False\u2019 Claims - Gambia<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The United Democratic Party issued a statement yesterday refuting remarks made by its former organising secretary, Ka ...\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/udp-bashes-bensoudas-false-claims\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"UDP Bashes Bensouda\u2019S \u2018False\u2019 Claims\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The United Democratic Party issued a statement yesterday refuting remarks made by its former organising secretary, Ka ...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/udp-bashes-bensoudas-false-claims\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Gambia\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/AfricaPressTunisiaa\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-11-03T18:06:22+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-11-03T18:35:06+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/gambia\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/sm_1762182259.950159.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1280\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"720\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"cfeditoren\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"cfeditoren\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/udp-bashes-bensoudas-false-claims#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/udp-bashes-bensoudas-false-claims\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"cfeditoren\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/#\/schema\/person\/068c7ab4e9634ae78ec5d54ec46598bb\"},\"headline\":\"UDP Bashes Bensouda\u2019S \u2018False\u2019 Claims\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-11-03T18:06:22+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-11-03T18:35:06+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/udp-bashes-bensoudas-false-claims\"},\"wordCount\":542,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/udp-bashes-bensoudas-false-claims#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/gambia\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/sm_1762182259.950159.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Gambia\"],\"articleSection\":[\"all news\",\"parties\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/udp-bashes-bensoudas-false-claims#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/udp-bashes-bensoudas-false-claims\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/udp-bashes-bensoudas-false-claims\",\"name\":\"UDP Bashes Bensouda\u2019S \u2018False\u2019 Claims - 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