Darboe Keeps Protest, Legal Action on Table as UDP Presses IEC Over 14,000 Voters

By Fatou Sillah

ANM Ousainu Darboe, leader of the United Democratic Party (UDP) and presidential candidate of the Gambia First Coalition, has not ruled out peaceful protests or legal action over discrepancies the party says it has identified in the Independent Electoral Commission’s (IEC) 2026 supplementary voter registration figures.

Speaking in an interview with Eye Africa, Mr. Darboe said a peaceful demonstration remained an option but acknowledged that the approaching presidential election made such action increasingly unlikely.

“Certainly, it is a possibility, but it could be an improbability because elections are fast approaching,” he said.

At the center of the UDP’s concerns are approximately 14,000 voters whose registration figures the party wants the electoral commission to clarify.

Mr. Darboe said the IEC had responded to the party’s inquiries but had failed to address its specific questions regarding the disputed figures.

He maintained that the party was seeking transparency and accountability, rather than attempting to undermine public confidence in the electoral process.

According to Mr. Darboe, the integrity of the voter register is a matter of national importance that transcends partisan politics, as an accurate and credible electoral roll serves the interests of all political parties and the Gambian electorate.

He rejected suggestions that the UDP was deliberately creating confusion or attempting to discredit the commission, insisting that the party was simply seeking a satisfactory explanation for the figures released by the IEC.

Despite raising concerns about the registration data, Mr. Darboe emphasized that the UDP was not accusing the electoral commission of misconduct. He reaffirmed his confidence in the IEC and other national institutions, while maintaining that public scrutiny of electoral processes was legitimate.

On the possibility of pursuing the matter through the courts, the veteran opposition leader said the party would consult its legal advisers before deciding whether to initiate proceedings.

“It’s a possibility, but we are not saying that we are going to court. We have to get advice from our lawyers,” he said.

His remarks come as political parties intensify preparations for the December 5 presidential election, with questions surrounding the supplementary voter registration figures adding to scrutiny of the electoral process.

While the UDP has yet to announce any formal protest or legal challenge, Mr. Darboe’s comments suggest that the party intends to continue pressing the IEC for clarification ahead of the vote.