Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Voice newspaper is standing by a report that angered the Gambian president and leader of the ruling National People’s Party (NPP), with the article’s author, Momodou Justice Darboe, refusing to retract or apologize to President Adama Barrow. This follows Barrow’s threat of legal action against the newspaper over its claim that he was planning to step down and had selected businessman Muhammed Jah as his successor for the 2026 elections.

The report, published last Monday, cited National People’s Party (NPP) officials and other sources, suggesting that Barrow’s exit plan had already been in motion, which reportedly left top party members unsettled.

Through his lawyer, Ida Drammeh, Barrow issued a stern demand for a full retraction and apology from the paper within 24 hours. In a letter dated Wednesday, Drammeh insisted the claims were defamatory and harmful to Barrow’s reputation, warning that failure to comply would result in legal action.

The letter criticized the article, published in the 23rd September edition of The Voice, under the headline “Barrow Chooses Muhammed Jah as Successor as President Works on Exit Plan – Sources.” The story stated that President Barrow had chosen Jah, a businessman with minimal political background, as his successor, causing shock among NPP members. The report also hinted at resistance from ECOWAS against Barrow’s alleged third-term bid due to the organization’s preoccupation with political instability in West Africa.

The letter from Barrow’s legal team denied all claims, calling them “outrageous and untrue.” The accusations were said to portray Barrow as unreliable and uninterested in continuing his presidency, allegations Barrow firmly rejected. The President demanded that The Voice not only retract the article but also issue a public apology in open court, pay damages for the reputational harm caused, and cover all legal costs associated with the matter.

However, The Voice has stood by its reporting. Momodou Justice Darboe, the author of the contentious article, declined to retract or apologize. Additionally, the paper’s Managing Director, Musa S. Sheriff, defended the story, emphasizing that proper journalistic standards were followed.

“As professionals, we approached this story with the highest consideration of ethics and principles of journalism by contacting both the mouthpiece and the deputy spokesman of the NPP, who were quoted in the article,” Sheriff stated.

With both sides firmly entrenched in their positions, the confrontation between President Barrow and The Voice could escalate into a high-profile legal battle over press freedom and the right to protect reputations in The Gambia’s political sphere.