By Staff Writer
Veteran politician and lawyer ANM Ousainou Darboe has been elected as the flagbearer of the United Democratic Party (UDP) for the 2026 presidential elections, following an intense internal selection process.
Darboe secured the top spot ahead of his contenders, Lawyer Borry Touray and former Finance Minister Amadou Sanneh. Among the delegates who cast their votes, Darboe garnered 65 votes, while Touray received 8 votes and Sanneh obtained 2 votes.
This marks the sixth time Darboe will lead the UDP into a presidential contest, a role he has assumed since the party’s founding in 1996.
With his victory, Darboe is set for a rematch against incumbent President Adama Barrow when Gambians head to the polls in December 2026. The two last faced off in the 2021 presidential election, where Barrow secured a second term in office.
UDP officials hailed the outcome as a demonstration of the party’s unity and democratic tradition, while supporters celebrated Darboe’s continued leadership at a crucial political moment for the country.