Coalition 2026 Threatens Street Protests if Bensouda Is Barred From Presidential Election

By Fatou Sillah

Assan Martin, spokesperson for Coalition 2026, has warned that the coalition will mobilize supporters for street protests if authorities attempt to prevent its presidential candidate, Talib Ahmed Bensouda, from contesting the December 5 presidential election.

Speaking at a UNITE Party press conference, addressing the government’s White Paper on the Local Government Commission of Inquiry report, Mr. Martin accused President Adama Barrow’s administration of attempting to use the document to undermine Mr. Bensouda’s presidential candidacy.

He maintained that the commission’s report did not establish personal liability or culpability against Mr. Bensouda and argued that the government’s interpretation of its findings could not serve as a legitimate basis for disqualifying him.

Mr. Martin warned that the coalition would not limit its response to legal proceedings if its candidate was prevented from participating in the election.

“We as Gambians will rally the public, march down the street, and deal with whatever will come to us,” he said.

The coalition spokesperson accused the government of deliberately misrepresenting the commission’s findings in its White Paper, describing the document as fabricated and manufactured to create grounds for action against Mr. Bensouda.

He argued that the commission’s original report should form the basis of the government’s response and questioned how the administration could establish wrongdoing against the mayor when, according to him, the inquiry had not found him personally liable.

Mr. Martin also challenged the role of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) in determining presidential eligibility, insisting that the electoral body should confine itself to administering elections and verifying whether candidates meet the prescribed nomination requirements.

He maintained that the IEC was neither responsible for interpreting the findings of a commission of inquiry nor empowered to independently determine personal liability arising from such proceedings.

The Coalition 2026 spokesperson further accused President Barrow of abusing the powers of his office and criticized the Minister of Justice over the government’s handling of the White Paper.

He alleged that the administration was attempting to use state institutions to influence the electoral process and undermine a political opponent ahead of the presidential election.

Mr. Martin reiterated that Coalition 2026 was committed to a free, fair, and transparent election but would resist any attempt to exclude its candidate from the contest.

He insisted that the coalition would not accept what it considers politically motivated efforts to disqualify Mr. Bensouda, warning that such a move could trigger public demonstrations.

The allegations come amid growing controversy over the government’s White Paper on the Local Government Commission of Inquiry, which has become a point of contention between the Barrow administration and Coalition 2026.

UNITE has maintained that the commission’s findings do not disqualify Mr. Bensouda from seeking the presidency and has called on the IEC to disregard the White Paper when assessing his nomination.