By Fatou Sillah
Aji Yam Secka, the deputy leader of the United Democratic Party (UDP), said the party would have won The Gambia’s 2016 presidential election even without joining the opposition coalition that united behind Adama Barrow to defeat former President Yahya Jammeh.
In an interview with Kerr Fatou, Ms. Secka said she remained confident that the UDP could secure victory in the Dec. 5, 2026, presidential election whether it contests independently or as part of a coalition.
“In 2016, if UDP had contested alone as a party, we would have won; that is what I believe,” she said. “And this time too we will win, either with a party-led coalition or a coalition, but no matter what, Darboe will win come December 5th this year. We are going to celebrate.”
The 2016 election marked a turning point in Gambian politics, with a coalition of opposition parties rallying behind Mr. Barrow as a consensus candidate. The alliance defeated Mr. Jammeh, ending his more than two decades in power.
Ms. Secka said the UDP believes widespread public dissatisfaction with President Adama Barrow’s administration has created favorable conditions for the party ahead of the election. She argued that many voters who may not publicly express their political preferences would ultimately support the UDP at the polls.
She said the party was preparing its electoral strategy but would not disclose details of its campaign plans before the vote.
Ms. Secka also criticized President Barrow’s leadership, accusing his administration of failing to meet the expectations of many Gambians. She called for greater civility in political discourse, particularly in comments directed at UDP leader Ousainou Darboe.
She said Mr. Darboe’s pledge to serve only one presidential term, if elected, reflected his commitment to addressing the country’s most pressing challenges while creating an orderly transition for a new generation of leaders.
According to Ms. Secka, a UDP administration led by Mr. Darboe would pursue reforms across multiple sectors, although she did not elaborate on specific policy proposals during the interview.
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