By Alhagie Jobe
Gambia’s leading opposition party, the United Democratic Party (UDP), Thursday, September 1 2016, named its standard bearer in the upcoming December 2016 presidential election.
Adama Barrow 51 from Mangkamang Kunda in Jimarara Constituency, Upper River Region, now residing in Old Yundum was named as party leader and candidate. He now replaces long time standard bearer and party leader Ousainou Darboe who is in jail and have contested several past elections without any positive change.
Barrow who has since been the party’s deputy treasurer was nominated from among three others who were interested namely Abdou Darboe, 35 from Sibanor and Momodou Buba Jarju, 46-year old from Brikama.
Barrow attended Koba Kunda Primary School, then to Crab Island Secondary before completing his secondary school education at Muslim High School in Banjul. He later traveled to the United Kingdom where he studied and also obtained certificates in Real Estate business. Upon return, in 2006, he established his own real estate firm, Majum Real Estate where he is the current CEO.
He has been described by many as a very dedicated, sympathetic, energetic and strong member of the UDP especially when it comes to executing his responsibilities as deputy treasurer of the party under the jailed Amadou Sanneh.
It could be recalled that in 2007, Barrow contested for the Jimara Constituency Parliamentary seat against current Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC) leader Mama Kandeh. He obtained 2835 votes against Kandeh who won with 4067 votes.
Adama is married with two wives and blessed with 5 children.
