Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The United Democratic Party (UDP) has postponed its highly anticipated nationwide tour, initially scheduled to begin on November 28, 2024. The decision follows a request from the Office of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), citing resource limitations due to the ongoing Presidential “Meet the People” tour.

In a statement issued to the public, the UDP expressed disappointment over the postponement, describing the police’s justification as “not plausible.”

However, the party emphasized its commitment to maintaining public order, stating: “The UDP Nationwide tour by the Secretary-General and Party Leader, His Excellency Alhaji ANM Ousainu Darboe… has been postponed until further notice due to a request and non-issuance of the permit by the Inspector General of Police.”

The UDP assured its members, supporters, and the public that new dates for the tour would be announced in due course.

Police cite security constraints.

The Inspector-General of Police’s office attributed the postponement to the overwhelming deployment of officers required to secure President Adama Barrow’s ongoing constitutionally mandated tour.

In a letter dated November 17, 2024, the police explained that conducting two simultaneous nationwide tours would overstretch the Gambia Police Force’s capacity.

“Based on the constitutional mandate of the presidential tour, the Gambia Police Force has overwhelmingly deployed its officers to ensure safety and security, which has overstretched its resources. Based on the above, the Gambia Police Force cannot police parallel tours at the same time,” the letter stated.

The IGP’s office assured the UDP of its commitment to maintaining peace and security and advised rescheduling the tour for a later date.

The nationwide tour by the UDP was widely seen as a platform to consolidate support ahead of the next electoral cycle. Similarly, President Barrow’s tour serves as an opportunity to engage with citizens and assess the impact of government policies.

The postponement adds to the mounting tensions between the opposition party and the government as debates over resource allocation and freedom of assembly continue to shape the nation’s political landscape.