Hon. Gibbi Mballow Urges NPP to Build Alliance with Team First Lady Ahead of Presidential Poll

Written by: Dawda Baldeh

Hon. Gibbi Mballow, popularly known as “Fulladu Mansa”, has urged the leadership of the National People’s Party (NPP) to engage Team First Lady in discussions aimed at forging a strategic alliance ahead of the next presidential election.

Mballow described Team First Lady as one of the most influential grassroots movements in The Gambia, pointing to its work in women’s empowerment, adolescent development, healthcare, education and community support.

According to him, while many political actors concentrate on social media campaigns and political messaging, Team First Lady has built public trust through direct engagement with communities and interventions that have positively impacted thousands of Gambians.

“Politics is ultimately about people. Those who touch the lives of the people earn their trust, and those who earn trust command influence. Team First Lady has demonstrated this through action, not words,” he said.

Mballow argued that the movement’s influence among ordinary Gambians now exceeds that of many established political groups, some of which he said rely heavily on online visibility while lacking strong grassroots structures.

“Let us be honest with ourselves. Team First Lady today enjoys a level of public goodwill and grassroots acceptance that many registered political parties can only dream of. Their reach, credibility and connection with the electorate make them a formidable national force,” he stated.

He cautioned the NPP against underestimating the movement’s political significance and called on party leaders to move swiftly in engaging the First Lady and her team before rival interests seek to benefit from the support they have cultivated over the years.

The outspoken politician stressed that successful political movements are built on strategic partnerships, community engagement and a proven commitment to improving people’s lives.

“My advice to the NPP is simple: recognise influence where it exists. Team First Lady has earned the respect and admiration of thousands of Gambians through service and compassion. Any political formation that ignores such a force does so at its own peril,” he added.

Mballow concluded by arguing that the future of Gambian politics will belong to leaders and institutions capable of combining effective governance with meaningful grassroots engagement.

“The strongest political currency is not noise on social media; it is the trust and confidence of the people,” he said.

His remarks come as political parties increasingly focus on alliance-building and electoral strategy ahead of the country’s next presidential election.