Dabo entered politics after a brief stint as The Gambia’s High Commissioner to Senegal (1979–1981). He played a key role during the 1981 coup attempt in Banjul, he help to mobilise Senegalese support to restore order Ahead of the 1982 elections, Dabo replaced H. O. Semega-Janneh as the PPP candidate for Western Kiang. Although a newcomer to the party, he was elected as an MP and retained the seat until the 1994 coup. He was subsequently appointed Minister of Information, Broadcasting, and Tourism. After the 1982 election, Dabo was appointed vice president and later given additional portfolios, including Education, Youth, and Culture, after the 1987 elections. Dabo became a prominent figure in the PPP government, frequently regarded as a potential successor to President Dawda Jawara. Despite being a leading contender to succeed Jawara, factional disputes within the PPP led to his demotion to minister of finance and economic affairs after the 1992 elections. == After
1994 Gambian coup d'état ==