Darboe Rallies Diaspora Supporters, Says Barrow Is UDP’s Only Opponent

By Seedy Jobe

The leader of the United Democratic Party, Ousainu Darboe, has urged supporters to focus their efforts on defeating President Adama Barrow in the December presidential election, saying the governing party, not rival opposition groups, should be their primary political target.

Speaking on Saturday at the UDP’s third Diaspora Convention in the United Kingdom, Mr. Darboe described the election as a consequential moment for The Gambia, saying the country was at a crossroads and that many Gambians were struggling with economic hardship and uncertainty.

“This election is a very consequential one,” he said. “Our nation is at a crossroads. Our people are suffering. Our youths are desperate and hopeless. We must change leadership and redirect the course.”

Mr. Darboe said the UDP and its allies represented an opportunity for political change, but stressed that success would depend on a collective effort extending from party leaders to ordinary voters, whom he described as the ultimate decision-makers.

He made a two-part appeal to Gambians living abroad, saying both the country and the UDP needed stronger diaspora participation as the election approached.

Mr. Darboe accused the Barrow administration of corruption and poor governance and said the president and his allies were determined to remain in power because an electoral defeat could expose them to greater scrutiny and demands for accountability.

He urged diaspora supporters to contribute financial and other resources to help the UDP expand its campaign operations and reach voters across the country with what he described as a message of growth, hope, and accountability.

Mr. Darboe also called on Gambians abroad to use their influence with relatives and friends at home to encourage support for the UDP-led alliance. Those registered to vote, he said, should consider returning to The Gambia to cast their ballots and assist with final campaign activities, election logistics, and polling duties.

Turning to relations with other opposition parties, Mr. Darboe urged supporters not to become distracted by political disputes outside the campaign’s central objective.

“We are not competing against anyone in the opposition,” he said. “We wish them well in their pursuits. Let us direct all our energy, use all our social media platforms, and put all our resources into mounting a robust challenge to Adama Barrow.”

Mr. Darboe said he expected political tensions to rise as the election drew closer and warned supporters that he, the UDP, and its alliance partners could face accusations, insults, and negative media campaigns.

He urged supporters not to respond in kind.

Even when confronted with false claims, he said, the campaign would be better served by focusing on its own message, proposed solutions, and the values it wants voters to associate with the UDP-led alliance.

Mr. Darboe said Gambians were more interested in solutions to their everyday problems than in political provocation and personal attacks. He called on supporters to emphasize persuasion, particularly when engaging voters who may not already support the party.

He repeated his call for party members to ignore attacks directed at him, the campaign or its allies and instead concentrate their energy, resources and social media activity on challenging President Barrow.

Mr. Darboe said he believed a majority of Gambian voters would ultimately support political change in December.