UDP Youth Leader Calls December 5 Election Defining Moment, Accuses Barrow of Seeking Third Term to Evade Accountability

By Seedy Jobe

Hagi Suwaneh, the National Youth President of the United Democratic Party (UDP), has described the December 5, 2026, presidential election as a defining moment for The Gambia, urging voters to reject President Adama Barrow’s bid for a third term and unite against what he described as widespread corruption and mismanagement.

In a statement shared with Kerr Fatou on Monday, Mr. Suwaneh accused President Barrow of seeking to prolong his stay in office despite growing public dissatisfaction with his administration.

He alleged that the president was increasingly desperate to retain power because he had recognized a shift in public sentiment against his government.

Mr. Suwaneh further claimed that President Barrow could attempt to engineer another political impasse to remain in office, alleging that the president feared being held accountable for his administration’s actions after leaving power.

The UDP youth leader warned that corruption undermines democratic institutions, weakens the rule of law and threatens the future of younger generations. He argued that unchecked corruption creates conditions for authoritarian rule and called for a united national response to what he described as The Gambia’s increasingly dangerous political trajectory.

Mr. Suwaneh also alleged that President Barrow feared UDP leader Ousainu Darboe more than any other political opponent because of the prospect of accountability under a new administration.

He accused the Barrow government of misusing public resources and distributing state-owned land to relatives and political associates at the expense of ordinary Gambians.

The allegations were not accompanied by evidence in the statement, and Kerr Fatou could not independently verify them.

Despite his accusations, Mr. Suwaneh insisted that a government led by Mr. Darboe would pursue accountability through lawful means rather than political retaliation.

“Lawyer ANM Ousainou Darboe will do JUSTICE, but not witch hunting. There will be no revenge. There will be accountability,” he said.

Mr. Suwaneh urged Gambians to place their confidence in Mr. Darboe, describing the veteran opposition leader as a politician whose integrity, consistency, and commitment to democratic principles had been demonstrated through three decades of political struggle and personal sacrifice.

He argued that Mr. Darboe possessed the experience and leadership qualities necessary to restore public confidence in government, strengthen democratic institutions, and steer the country toward a more prosperous future.

The UDP youth leader maintained that the party’s vision for national development, as outlined in its election manifesto, could only be realized under a Darboe presidency.

He called on voters to support the UDP in the December 5 election, presenting the contest as an opportunity for national renewal and a decisive break from what he characterized as years of corruption and poor governance.

Mr. Suwaneh concluded by urging Gambians to vote for the UDP, whose party color is yellow, under the campaign slogan “One Term, One Vision, One Mission,” in pursuit of what the party describes as “The Gambia We Want.”