Pa Njie Girigara Calls on UDP to Pass Leadership to Younger Generation

By Fatou Sillah

Businessman and political commentator Pa Njie Girigara has renewed his call for the United Democratic Party (UDP) to hand its leadership to a younger generation, arguing that such a transition would strengthen the party’s long-term electoral prospects.

Speaking in an interview with West Coast Radio, Mr. Girigara said he had urged the party before the 2021 presidential election to choose a younger flag bearer instead of veteran opposition leader Ousainou Darboe. The party ultimately retained Mr. Darboe, who lost the election to President Adama Barrow.

“I have been advising the UDP to give the leadership to the youth because we are in their generation so that they can take the party to higher highs,” Mr. Girigara said. “When I said that to Ousainou Darboe, he refused. He contested in 2021; President Barrow almost doubled his votes.”

Mr. Girigara argued that the party should begin planning beyond the immediate electoral cycle, saying leadership renewal would better position the UDP for future contests.

He also criticized what he described as a short-term focus among some opposition politicians, saying too much attention is being placed on winning the 2026 presidential election rather than building sustainable political movements.

Commenting on the broader opposition landscape, Mr. Girigara said National Unity Party leader Lamin J. Darboe appeared to be looking beyond the 2026 election, while expressing skepticism about the electoral prospects of UNITE leader Talib Ahmed Bensouda.

Mr. Girigara concluded by urging Gambians to embrace civility in political engagement, describing politics as a contest of ideas rather than conflict.

“I am urging all Gambians: politics is a game of civilization and a game of numbers and persuasion. It is not a fight or a war; try and bring the voters on your side, the silent majority, because those people don’t want rudeness, violence, or dictators,” he said. “I want The Gambia to become the heaven of political discourse in the whole of Africa in 10 years, and we can get there.”