The county’s biggest party, United Demarcatic Party (UDP) could be facing a devastating split up as the leadership struggles to select a candidate for the top job in the Kanifing Municipality in next year’s local government elections.

As the race for the mayoral seat intensifies, there are rumours swirling that Lawyer Amie Bensouda’s son Talib Ahmed is the pick for UDP leader, Ousainou Darboe.

Talib is a young man in his late 30s and if the information on his LinkedIn profile is anything to go by, he studied at the University of Toronto. He described himself as “a keen business enthusiast.”

He wrote on his profile: “I have used my vast experience in business planning, strategy implementation and control to advice companies. I have recently been instrumental in the setup of Blue Ocean Properties, a now leading estate development company in the Gambia. I also currently sit as a Director on the boards of Blue Ocean Properties, Insist Global Solutions and Takaful Gambia Limited.”

Some influential UDP supporters in Bakau, one of the party’s biggest strongholds, have threatened to disavow their membership in the party if Talib is forced on them.

They want Musa Jammeh to be the UDP nominee. He’s a young Gambian living in the UK. Musa was born and raised in Bakau and was KMC’s representative in the National Youth Council. He has a bachelor’s degree in Youth and Community Studies.

Other UDP sympathisers fighting for the party’s nomination include Papa Njie. But according to party insiders, his chances are very slim because he is not even recognised as a member.