Minister of Works and Infrastructure Ebrima Sillah has accused the opposition United Democratic Party of plotting violence ahead of elections, saying the party knows it has already been defeated.
Speaking October 16 in Bijilo during President Adama Barrow's Meet the People Tour, Sillah denied social media claims that he, Hon. Seedy Njie and Hon. Demba Sabally visited the Independent Electoral Commission late Monday night to block release of the voters' register to the UDP.
"I want to make it clear that I was not even in The Gambia last Monday. I had travelled on Sunday," Sillah said, saying his name was tarnished by false allegations spread by diaspora elements linked to the UDP.
The allegations claimed the three senior officials collaborated with the IEC to prevent it from releasing the register requested by the UDP.
Sillah said he had ignored online claims but an elder who follows TikTok urged him to clear his name publicly.
"If the UDP is afraid of contesting the elections against us, let them say so. We know what they are planning. They want to ignite violence because they know President Adama Barrow has already defeated them," Sillah said.
"Whatever they want to sell in this country, if it is violence, we will buy it from them. If they want to sell peace, we will also buy peace from them. When they come out in the morning, we will give them breakfast. In the afternoon, we will give them lunch, and at night, we will give them dinner."
He said NPP supporters should stand their ground and that UDP cannot take the country backwards.
Sillah addressed UDP leader Ousainou Darboe directly, referencing their political history since 1997 and events of 2016.
"He and I have been involved in politics since 1997. We stood by him and supported him. I am asking him to tell those who speak on his behalf to keep quiet. They are insulting our elders, our President and his ministers," he said, urging Darboe to caution his supporters.
He expressed confidence that Barrow will win the election.
The UDP has not yet publicly responded.