Presidential Adviser and Youth President of the National People’s Party (NPP), Momodou Sabally, has dismissed suggestions that the ongoing electricity crisis will weaken President Adama Barrow’s support base ahead of the 2026 presidential election.
Speaking on Coffee Time with Peter Gomez, Sabally described the power shortage as a national problem rather than a political issue, accusing the opposition of attempting to exploit it for political gain.
“These political maneuvers have failed because Barrow is treating the power crisis as an urgent national priority rather than a political talking point,” Sabally said.
He expressed confidence in the ruling party’s chances in the upcoming election, insisting that voters will not be swayed by opposition criticism over the electricity situation.
Sabally also took aim at Kanifing Municipal Council Mayor Talib Bensouda, questioning his ability to manage national challenges. He cited alleged shortcomings in Bensouda’s handling of the Serrekunda Market, including delays in refuse collection, lack of solar lighting, and inadequate sanitary facilities for women.
According to Sabally, Bensouda’s record at the local level should be considered when assessing his capacity to address national issues such as the electricity crisis. He further dismissed political events organized by the mayor as unreliable indicators of voter support.
On the government’s response to the crisis, Sabally reaffirmed October 2026 as the deadline for resolving the country’s power problems. He stressed that President Barrow is giving the matter his full attention, describing improvements to the electricity infrastructure as the administration’s top priority.
“Nothing is currently more important to the president than fixing the power infrastructure,” he said.
With the opposition continuing to criticize the government’s handling of the crisis, the ability to deliver reliable electricity before the 2026 election is expected to remain a key issue for voters
