By: The Fatu Network Editorial

Following the National People’s Party’s (NPP) victory in the Half Die Ward by-elections, President Adama Barrow has congratulated the party’s candidate, Bettlomy Colly, along with the NPP’s regional leadership and supporters.

In a statement issued by NPP Deputy Spokesperson Seedy SK Njie, President Barrow described the result as “a clear indication and demonstration of the trust and confidence Banjul and Gambians continue to place in the National People’s Party.” He congratulated Bettlomy Colly, NPP Regional Chairman Ousman Abou Wadda, and members of the Banjul NPP committee, as well as the youth and elders of Banjul for their support.

Barrow linked the victory to ongoing infrastructure projects in Banjul, noting that “billions of Dalasi invested in road, sewage, and drainage rehabilitation projects” are nearing completion. He also cited plans for “a multi-million Dalasi Half-Die football pitch rehabilitation project” expected to begin soon.

The President stated that his government remains committed to continuing infrastructure development across the country. “This victory is not just a win for the NPP but a triumph for development, democracy, good governance, and the rule of law,” he said.

Looking ahead to the 2026 presidential election, Barrow expressed optimism, saying he anticipates “nothing short of a landslide victory.”

The statement concluded with a message of thanks: “Thank you, Half-Die! Thank you, Banjul! Thank you, Gambia!”

By: The Fatu Network Editorial

Momodou Sabally, Adviser to President Adama Barrow, speaks to a journalist at Half Die Ward in Banjul on election day, confidently supporting NPP candidate Bartholomew Bolo Colley.

Praising the youth of Half Die and Banjul for their support in sports development, Sabally said, “They know which party and which candidate can bring sports infrastructural development, and that’s Bolo,” before inviting the journalist to a party at State House.

When asked about Momodou Saro – who was initially linked to the People’s Alliance Party (PAP) – Sabally dismissed the party’s relevance, saying, “A party that I don’t know about in this country has no weight, so it doesn’t matter. It’s statistically insignificant.”

His comments come after information emerged that PAP, led by Ebrima Tabora Manneh, had reportedly withdrawn from the Half Die Ward by-election to support the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) candidate against the NPP.

By: Seringe S.T. Touray

A political storm is brewing in Banjul’s Half Die Ward as the United Democratic Party (UDP) and the National People’s Party (NPP) exchange accusations over a leaked audio recording containing tribalist remarks against the Fulani community.

The controversy began Thursday when the UDP issued a strongly worded statement condemning what it described as “tribalist rhetoric” allegedly made by a woman affiliated with the NPP. According to the UDP, the leaked audio – provided to The Fatu Network – originated from an NPP WhatsApp group and targeted the Fula ethnic group, referring to them as “betrayers” and questioning the candidacy of Momodou Salieu, a Fula of Guinean heritage running under the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) ticket. The UDP described the incident as part of a broader pattern of “ethnic division” allegedly fostered under the NPP-led administration.

The party demanded a public apology from the NPP, an investigation by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), and a national dialogue on ethnic tolerance, warning that such rhetoric poses a threat to national unity.

In response, the NPP denied any involvement that evening, describing the UDP’s statement as “malicious propaganda.” In a press release signed by Deputy Spokesperson Seedy S.K. Njie, the ruling party said its preliminary inquiry found no evidence linking the woman in the audio to the NPP. It insisted that the person in question has no affiliation with the party, which it said remains committed to inclusivity and the rejection of tribal politics.

The NPP emphasized its appreciation for the Fulani community’s contributions to national development and highlighted that President Adama Barrow himself has Fulani ancestry. The party accused the UDP of exploiting the incident to sway voters in favor of the PPP/UDP-backed candidate, calling the tactic “barbaric” and “divisive.”

On Friday, the UDP issued a second statement refuting the NPP’s denial and what it termed “deceptive propaganda.” The party said it had evidence, including a screenshot – also provided to The Fatu Network – that confirms the audio originated from within the NPP’s “Team Bollo for Councillor” WhatsApp group. The UDP accused the NPP of hypocrisy and attempting to deflect responsibility, insisting that the NPP must apologize and hold its members accountable.

The UDP maintains that the incident reflects a “habitual reliance on lies, bigotry, and deception” by the ruling party and reiterated its call for voters to reject tribal politics in favor of unity and democratic progress.

As the Half Die Ward by-election approaches tomorrow, Saturday, the back-and-forth between the country’s two dominant political forces underscores the rising tensions in a race many are closely watching.

Written By: Seringe S.T. Touray

Mai Ahmad Fatty’s fiery press conference on Thursday, where he accused Kassa TV of hacking his phone and defaming him feels more like a deflection than a defense. If his phone was truly hacked, where is the evidence? Doesn’t he use a password or biometric lock, like most of us? And why wasn’t this reported to the police before facing the cameras? Has he filed that report yet, and will he be keeping the public updated on the findings of such investigation?

Mai claimed once again that his phone was hacked for a second time during his press conference, to publish a post that evidently appeared to have been AI-generated – again accusing Kassa TV. This occurred while he was using his phone to record the press conference, which he presented as evidence that he couldn’t have posted anything at that very moment. But this logic is flimsy at best. One doesn’t need the same phone to post something online. Most platforms are simultaneously accessible via both phone and computer, and it’s entirely possible for someone to coordinate a post on his behalf, especially if the goal is to shift blame.

The reality is, it looks very much like Mai got caught using ChatGPT to help craft a political statement. That’s not a scandal – it’s a sign of the times. In many developed nations, professionals and institutions are increasingly and openly embracing the use of AI technology to improve their work and performance. Of course, like any tool, AI can be used responsibly or irresponsibly – it all depends on the person using it.

Unfortunately, the shame still exists here, in The Gambia, where we don’t even distinguish between responsible and irresponsible use. We simply shame anyone who uses AI at all. Instead of embracing innovation, we turn it into yet another weapon to tear each other down.

Rather than admitting what happened, it appears as though Mai lashed out, accusing a media platform of foul play without presenting a shred of proof. If these accusations are false, what he said could constitute defamation.

We must stop stigmatizing technology and start learning how to use it responsibly, because whether anybody likes it or not, unless you’re one of the indigenous groups in the Amazon who have actively avoided or rejected contact with outsiders, everyone else in the world uses AI one way or another. If Mai used AI, he should have just owned it. Instead, he seemed more worried about protecting his ego than telling the truth – and the public appears to see through it.

By: The Fatu Network Editorial

Kassa TV issued a sharp rebuttal to accusations made earlier in the day by Mai Ahmad Fatty, leader of the Gambia Moral Congress (GMC), who alleged during a press conference that the online media platform had hacked his Facebook account and deliberately spread misinformation to damage his political image.

Fatty, during the press conference, firmly denied allegations that he used ChatGPT to draft political statements, describing the claim as a calculated attempt to “portray [him] as intellectually incapable.”

“Everybody in this country knows who I am—my ability to write and speak. I don’t have to defend myself,” Fatty said. “But it is a shame for Kassa TV to do this… to hack into my phone at a time when the nation is a witness to such a lie.”

He further claimed that a Facebook post cited by Kassa TV as evidence was published while he was speaking live to the press: “God being so good, the post they made appeared at a time when I was using the phone live—in front of you, the journalists.”

Fatty characterized the situation as a politically motivated smear campaign: “Kassa TV and its allies hacked into my phone to create a false political impression. They are shameless… But I can tell them that they have failed.”

Shortly after Fatty’s press conference, Kassa TV released a response titled “You Got Caught. Don’t Blame Us,” firmly rejecting the hacking allegations and doubling down on its claim that Fatty used AI-generated content in his public address.

“Let’s not waste time sugarcoating the truth,” the statement begins. “Mai Fatty used ChatGPT to write his press conference speech, and he forgot to edit out the AI-generated text before going live.”

According to the media outlet, Fatty later posted the same unedited speech to his Facebook page—before realizing the oversight. “We screenshot [it] as evidence,” Kassa TV claimed. “Now that the public has seen through the performance, he’s trying to spin the story by blaming Kassa TV for ‘spreading misinformation.’ That’s not only false—it’s embarrassing.”

Rejecting any suggestion of misconduct, Kassa TV insisted their reporting was factual and evidence-based.

“We didn’t fabricate anything. We reported the facts, backed by clear evidence: a political leader caught using AI to fake a public address,” the response read. “That’s not leadership. That’s laziness and deception.”

The statement also criticized Fatty’s approach, suggesting that instead of accepting responsibility, he chose to attack the media: “Instead of apologizing to the Gambian people, he’s attacking the media for doing its job. We won’t be intimidated. The truth doesn’t need defending—it just needs exposure.”

Whether these explosive claims and counterclaims will lead to legal consequences or simply deepen the political divide remains to be seen – but the spotlight is now firmly fixed on the intersection of AI, politics, and press freedom in The Gambia.