Banjul Mayor Malick-Lowe lays out winning formula for political success in Gambia 

With election tensions running high, Banjul’s Mayor, Rohey Malick-Lowe, has taken to social media to offer a strategic masterclass in political maneuvering.

In a post titled “Advice from the Queen!”, Malick-Lowe laid out her winning formula for political success, emphasizing the importance of protecting strongholds, staying strategic, and avoiding unnecessary conflicts. But her confident tone and self-proclaimed expertise have sparked both admiration and skepticism.

According to Malick-Lowe, victory is not about winning every polling station but about safeguarding one’s base. “The win is imminent, victory is within arm’s reach,” she declared, offering a last-minute pep talk to political hopefuls. She advised against insults, intimidation, bullying, and harassment, though intriguingly hinted at two other tactics she chose to keep to herself.

The Mayor outlined what she called “The FOUR” key elements for success in Gambian politics:

1. Be Strategic

2. Be Close to the Grassroots

3. Be Charismatic

4. Money – Necessary but Not the Biggest Deal

But beyond these, she teased a fifth, more elusive secret to winning: “If you want an answer, hire me.”

Malick-Lowe, a known figure within the United Democratic Party (UDP), insisted she operates as a free agent during elections. She cited her involvement in the successful campaign of Lamin Sanneh in Massembeh and dismissed claims that she is difficult to work with. “It’s because I’m not easy to fool,” she said, reinforcing her image as a no-nonsense political strategist.

Malick-Lowe confidently predicted that UDP would lose just one polling station, basing her assertion on her on-the-ground observations. She also shared results from several areas, highlighting UDP’s numerical advantage:

JOMAR: UDP 181 – NPP 46

KOLIOR: UDP 269 – NPP 80

TARANKABABTING: UDP 5 – NPP 211

MASENBEH: UDP 245 – NPP 176

Total Vote Count: UDP 700 – NPP 513

Margin of Difference: 187 votes in UDP’s favor

While Malick-Lowe’s remarks have been met with support from UDP loyalists, critics argue that her overconfidence may be premature. The NPP’s performance in Tarankababting, where they overwhelmingly defeated UDP, raises questions about the ruling party’s potential resilience in other areas.

Some also question whether her approach—offering political strategies as a service—blurs the line between party loyalty and political consultancy. Will her confidence translate into a decisive UDP victory, or is she underestimating the shifting dynamics of Gambian politics?

With just hours left before the final tally, all eyes are on the polls to see if “The Queen” truly holds the winning strategy or if unexpected twists will challenge her predictions.