Lamin J. Darboe Calls for Opposition Unity to Defeat Barrow in December Election

By Fatou Sillah

Lamin J. Darboe, leader of the National Unity Party, has called on Gambians to rally behind Coalition 2026, saying opposition unity is essential to defeating President Adama Barrow in the December presidential election.

Speaking at the Coalition 2026 Unity Rally at Brikama SSP, Darboe said a change in government was necessary to improve opportunities for young people, empower women, and strengthen good governance.

He urged Gambians to turn out in large numbers on Dec. 5 and cast their ballots for change.

“On the 5th of December, let us all go and cast our votes, and we will remove President Barrow from power so that we can empower the women, the youth, and everybody in the country and bring good governance to the country,” Darboe said.

Darboe argued that good governance should create opportunities for young people to acquire skills, establish businesses, and participate more fully in the economy. Women and other groups, he added, should also have greater opportunities to contribute to the country’s development.

He said leadership should be rooted in integrity, compassion, and discipline, qualities he argued have been lacking in the country’s governance and have contributed to many of the difficulties Gambians have faced in recent years.

Darboe recalled the optimism that accompanied Barrow’s election in 2016, when a coalition of opposition parties united to end former President Yahya Jammeh’s 22-year rule. He said many Gambians supported Barrow in the hope that his administration would usher in meaningful political and economic change but argued that those expectations had not been met.

He said growing dissatisfaction with the government had renewed calls for opposition parties to put aside their differences and work together ahead of the election.

Darboe said the NUP and its partners in Coalition 2026 were responding to those calls by joining forces to challenge Barrow at the polls.

He also expressed confidence that the election results would be known by the day after voting.