Ebrima Dibba says he has no regrets over leaving UDP

By Dawda Baldeh

Ebrima Dibba, once a prominent figure in the United Democratic Party (UDP) and now an executive member of the Unite Party (UP) led by Kanifing Municipal Council Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda, has hit back at critics of his departure, insisting he has no regrets.

In a 10-minute WhatsApp audio message obtained by The Fatu Network, Dibba said his decision was personal and rooted in his love for the nation. “I don’t regret anything I do in Gambian politics. And I do not regret leaving UDP,” he declared.

He recalled joining politics as a teenager in 1996, saying he took risks few others had.

“What I risk in Gambian politics, no one has ever risked. I joined politics in 1996 as a teenager with no degree, no job, no wife, no house, no children, and I didn’t even have a bicycle at that time,” he said.

Dibba left UDP in September after the party’s controversial leadership election to join Bensouda’s UP. He admitted the decision was difficult but necessary. “I have done my part for the party, and it was the most challenging decision to leave an already powerful and established party to start afresh. But in the end, I have to move on,” he explained.

UDP leader Ousainu Darboe described Dibba’s departure as painful, likening it to “a father losing his son” in an interview with Eye Africa TV last month.

Dibba said his political journey was always about national development, not personal gain. He noted that even if UDP had won the 1996 election, he would not have benefited, as he was still a student.

Since leaving UDP, Dibba said he has faced both praise and criticism. “Some congratulated me, but others were ranting and saying all negative things about me, which are untrue,” he said, adding: “No one can bring me down if Allah has not destined it to happen. If you want to fight me, go ahead, but Allah is my hope.”

He urged UP members and supporters to remain united and warned against spreading falsehoods. He also revealed he had survived perilous attempts on his life. “Now I have learned to be myself. I will not be intimidated by anyone; I will continue my political journey, and no one can change that,” he stressed.

Dibba said he would limit his political commentary online and, in the media, to respect party values, though he would speak out when necessary. He also condemned the recording of private conversations, calling it a breach of trust. “I have never recorded any conversation with anyone, either openly or secretly,” he affirmed.

Dibba’s exit from UDP has surprised many, given his influence in the party, and continues to stir debate within Gambian politics.

 By Dawda Baldeh Ebrima Dibba, once a prominent figure in the United Democratic Party (UDP) and now an executive member of the Unite Party (UP) led by Kanifing Municipal Council Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda, has hit back at critics of his departure, insisting he has no regrets. In a 10-minute WhatsApp audio message obtained by The Fatu Network