Halifa Sallah Tells Wuli Voters to Choose Ideas Over Party Loyalty

Veteran Gambian politician Halifa Sallah has urged residents of Wuli to weigh candidates’ ideas and policies before voting, rather than letting emotion or party loyalty decide their choice. He made the appeal at a meeting in the area as the December election approaches. Sallah described voting as the temporary transfer of citizens’ power and voice to the people they elect. In his view, voters should understand what that choice means: elected leaders gain authority over public resources and important institutions, including those responsible for national security. He urged residents to consider whether candidates would use that authority in the public’s interest. The coalition figure warned that electing someone without carefully examining their commitments and record could have far-reaching consequences. He said a vote should be entrusted to candidates on the strength of their ideas, not simply because of an emotional attachment or political affiliation. Sallah also linked the coalition’s formation to the need for parties and other stakeholders to work together. Looking back at the 2016 presidential election, he described the change of government as a collective achievement, not the work of a single party. He rejected claims that one party alone was responsible, noting that UDP leader Ousainu Darboe was imprisoned during the election period. The appeal went beyond the ballot itself. Sallah urged Gambians to put national interests ahead of partisan differences, arguing that people who care about their country should be prepared to act when it faces difficulties. His message to Wuli voters was that choosing leaders is a serious responsibility: citizens should scrutinise the ideas on offer and consider how those policies might affect the country before lending a candidate their voice.