By Nelson Manneh
The National People’s Party tightened its hold on the capital Saturday, as its candidate, Bartholomeh Colley, swept to victory in the Half-Die Ward by-election, capturing a commanding majority of the vote.
Colley secured 601 votes against 317 for Salieu Jallow of the People’s Progressive Party, according to official results announced by Joseph Colley, Vice Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission. The total votes cast stood at 918, with the outcome certified by Sulayman Joof, the returning officer for the Banjul Administrative Area.
The NPP’s win, representing 65.4 percent of the vote, further cements its dominance at the local level. Jallow, carrying the banner of the once-dominant PPP, managed only 34.5 percent.
The election was triggered by the sudden departure of the former councilor, who left for Europe and abandoned his seat, leaving Half-Die Ward without leadership for months.
