By Fatou Sillah
The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) on Thursday formally entered into a political alliance with the United Democratic Party (UDP), marking a significant development in The Gambia’s opposition landscape as parties position themselves for the 2026 presidential election.
The agreement was announced during a ceremony at the UDP’s national bureau in Pipeline, where leaders of both parties pledged to work together in an effort to strengthen opposition cooperation ahead of the polls.
Addressing party supporters and officials, PPP flagbearer Saikou Sawo said the alliance was the result of extensive internal consultations and reflected the party’s commitment to fostering greater unity among opposition forces.
Mr. Sawo said the PPP’s Central Executive Committee undertook a transparent deliberative process before approving the decision, with the proposal receiving broad support from the party’s leadership.
According to him, the alliance was motivated by the belief that the country’s current political challenges require opposition parties to work collectively rather than independently.
“We want to align with you because we recognize Gambia is bigger than me; Gambia is bigger than all of us,” Mr. Sawo said.
He added that the partnership should not be viewed as an exclusive arrangement, emphasizing that the PPP remains open to engaging other opposition parties and political leaders in pursuit of a broader coalition.
Mr. Sawo said approximately 95 percent of party members who participated in the internal voting process endorsed the alliance, describing the outcome as a strong mandate from the party’s leadership.
“The numbers speak for themselves. It is the facts. We, as an opposition party, recognize that the opposition is strong,” he said.
Senior officials of the UDP, including the party’s leader and executive members, attended the signing ceremony and welcomed the PPP into the alliance. They described the partnership as an important step toward consolidating opposition efforts ahead of the 2026 presidential election.
The alliance follows months of discussions within sections of the opposition over the possibility of greater political cooperation before the next national vote. PPP officials said the agreement reflects their assessment that a united opposition would be better positioned to address the country’s political and governance challenges.
While the agreement formally brings the PPP and UDP together, party officials indicated that discussions with other opposition groups could continue as efforts to broaden cooperation ahead of the election progress.
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