Lawyer Ousainou Darboe has finally stepped aside as the leader of the United Democratic Party (UDP).
More than 500 party delegates met on Sunday in Brikama Mansaringsu to select a new leader for the country’s main opposition party.
According to reports reaching What’s On-Gambia, gender activist Matida Daffeh, has been unanimously selected to lead UDP to better future. She is also the party’s candidate in the December presidential elections.
Although she is in her early 30s, Matida has been described by many as an old head on young shoulders.
In a press release sent to almost all the media houses in the country, except Daily Observer, former party leader Lawyer Darboe congratulated the Brikama-born gender activist. According to him, Matida’s selection to lead the party is a significant development in the country’s political history.
She will be the first woman to contest for the presidency.
Who is Matida?
She was born and raised in Brikama. Matida is the executive director of Girls’ Agenda - a community based organization that works on women and girl's human rights. The courage she recently demonstrated in calling for a ban on polygamy made her an obvious choice to lead UDP. Such bravery convinced Lawyer Darboe and his colleagues that she possessed the thick sick required to take the helm in The Gambia.
Ebrima Dibba one of the most prominent UDP militants in the USA said his party has exercised great wisdom in choosing her as the flag bearer.
“She has done so much for the country, advocating for and saving the lives of many young girls and women. She sacrificed her youth for the causes of women.”
Former University of The Gambia political science lecturer, Sait Matty Jaw, also congratulated UDP for selecting a woman to lead the party. He said: “Although she is young in politics, we must not forget that countries around the world are increasingly loosing hope in so called ‘politically correct’ groomed politicians. Since, men leaders (except Paul Kagame) seem to fail us for so long, it’s time we as Africans have faith in ladies.”
Matida Daffeh is having her first political rally on Saturday in Gunjur village!