By Fatou Sillah
Assan Martin, a spokesman for Coalition 2026, has rejected suggestions that the United Democratic Party was treated unfairly during opposition alliance negotiations, saying the party left the talks because it opposed the adoption of an independent candidate-led model.
Speaking in an interview with ASKANWI TV, Mr. Martin responded to remarks by UDP leader Ousainou Darboe, who told supporters that his party remained open to working with other political groups but would not join an alliance that placed it at a disadvantage.
“We will not allow anyone to use the UDP,” Mr. Darboe said. “We want a fair and honest coalition or alliance, but we will not accept one that is skewed against the UDP.”
Mr. Darboe added that political groups genuinely seeking to bring about a change of government should join forces with the UDP.
Mr. Martin described those remarks as Mr. Darboe’s personal assessment of the negotiations. He maintained that decisions within Coalition 2026 had been reached through discussions and voting among the participating groups.
According to Mr. Martin, the initiative was initially associated with efforts to form a UDP-led coalition. The direction of the talks changed, he said, after a majority of participants voted for an independent candidate-led alliance rather than one organized around an established political party.
Mr. Martin said the UDP rejected that framework and subsequently left the negotiations.
“The disagreement was about whether the coalition should be party-led or independent-led,” he said. “We voted for the independent-led model. They did not want that, and they left.”
Mr. Martin said Coalition 2026 remained committed to building what he described as a fair and transparent opposition alliance. He urged political groups to base their decisions on policies and programs rather than personal loyalties or emotion.
“We do not agree with his statement because we remain on course to deliver an honest and fair coalition,” Mr. Martin said.
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