By Makutu Manneh
Assan Martin, a spokesman for Coalition 2026, has said the United Democratic Party did not permanently withdraw from opposition coalition negotiations but stepped back to consult its leadership over a proposed candidate-led alliance.
Mr. Martin’s comments followed reports that the UDP had abandoned the negotiations aimed at uniting opposition parties behind a single candidate for the December 2026 presidential election.
In an interview with Kerr Fatou, Mr. Martin said most of the political groups participating in the talks had agreed that the coalition should be led by an independent candidate and should not contest the election under the name, ticket, or colors of any political party.
That position conflicts with the UDP’s preference for a party-led coalition.
“The information they left with us at the talks was that they have to go and consult with their party,” Mr. Martin said. “It is not like they said they are going and not coming back.”
Under the proposed framework, the person selected to lead the coalition would be required to suspend any party candidacy, affiliation, and membership, Mr. Martin said. He added that the proposal was approved by a majority of the groups involved and communicated to all participants.
The coalition is now awaiting a response from the UDP’s negotiating team. Mr. Martin said coalition members intended to contact the party in the coming days to determine whether it would return to the talks.
He expressed hope that the UDP would reconsider its position and rejoin the negotiations, allowing the coalition-building process to continue.
The talks are part of a broader effort to avoid a divided opposition vote by selecting a single candidate to challenge President Adama Barrow in the 2026 election.
Comments are closed.