By Fatou Sillah
Saikou Sawo, the presidential candidate of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), has argued that the Gambian opposition would have its strongest chance of defeating President Adama Barrow in the 2026 presidential election if all opposition parties united behind the United Democratic Party (UDP).
Speaking in an interview with Eye Africa, Mr. Sawo said his position reflects the UDP’s status as the country’s largest opposition party and its sustained electoral presence since 1996.
He pointed to the party’s representation in the National Assembly and local government, including councillors and chairpersons, as evidence that it is best positioned to lead a coalition.
“Right now in The Gambia, any coalition that the UDP is not part of is going to be very tough, and that is the reality,” Mr. Sawo said. “We have a better chance of winning when all the parties join the UDP. That is my opinion when it comes to the country. Let’s keep our personal ambitions aside and look at the country because if we don’t unite now, it is better for Barrow to continue.”
Mr. Sawo said the PPP adopted its position after consultations within the party’s executive, where members agreed to support a UDP-led coalition should opposition parties reach a unity agreement.
He said the party’s approach is based on the principle that coalition leadership should be determined by political strength and organizational capacity rather than individual ambition. If another opposition party were to emerge as the largest political force in the future, he added, the PPP would apply the same reasoning.
According to Mr. Sawo, the party’s position was formally communicated during coalition negotiations by the PPP’s national president. He said discussions among opposition parties remain ongoing despite persistent disagreements.
He identified the selection of a coalition flag bearer as the principal obstacle to an agreement, saying several political leaders remain interested in leading a unified opposition ticket.
“Negotiations are ongoing, but the problem is, is who is going to lead the coalition,” he said. “The flag bearer issue is why the process is dragging on. Everybody wants to lead, but we can only have one, so we have to compromise.”
Mr. Sawo urged opposition leaders to reach a consensus soon, warning that time is running short before the nomination period and campaign season begin. He said political leaders should prioritize the country’s interests over personal ambitions if they hope to present a united front in the 2026 election.
Comments are closed.