Revising Court: Barrow’s nephew named in ‘voter card dispute’ as UDP agent testifies
The Revising Court at Kanifing yesterday heard dramatic testimony from a United Democratic Party (UDP) agent who alleged that President Adama Barrow’s nephew, Amadou Sanneh, assisted an applicant to obtain a voter’s card.
Amie Sankanu, who served as a UDP agent during the last supplementary voter registration in Kololi, told the court that Sanneh accompanied one Ablie Bah to the registration centre and presented his documents to officials of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
Led in evidence by her counsel, M.L. Ceesay, Sankanu testified: “Ablie Bah came with a birth certificate with a red seal. It was Amadou Sanneh who presented the birth certificate to the IEC officials. Amadou Sanneh told the IEC officials that the applicant, Ablie Bah, is an imam and an Islamic teacher in the community. Amadou Sanneh was doing the talking while Ablie Bah kept quiet.”
She further claimed that IEC officials refused her request to record the serial number of the birth certificate, allowing her only to note its details. Sankanu insisted that Bah was not Gambian, stating that she had lived in Kololi for 15 years and had never seen him register in previous exercises.
“If Ablie Bah is a Gambian, why was he being led by Amadou Sanneh? Why was he not accompanied by his parents? This is why I said that he is not a Gambian,” she told the court.
Cross‑Examination
Under cross‑examination, defence counsel asked whether she had formally objected to Bah’s registration. Sankanu admitted she had not, explaining that IEC officials told her she could only record the document’s details. She also confirmed that the IEC itself did not object to Bah’s registration.
The defence challenged her assertion, stating: “I put it to you that Ablie Bah’s mother is a Gambian and she is from Basse.”
Sankanu replied: “I don’t know that.”
Counsel further argued that eligibility for a voter’s card requires presentation of an ID card, birth certificate, passport or attestation. Sankanu agreed, but maintained her objection was based on Sanneh’s role.
“He came with Amadou Sanneh who did all the talking. He did not come with his parents,” she said.
The case continues before the Revising Court.
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