By Seedy Jobe
ANM Ousainu Darboe, the leader of the main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP), said Friday that public frustration with the country’s leadership had reached a breaking point and that Gambians were prepared to entrust his party with governing ahead of the 2026 presidential election.
Speaking on The Grand Bantaba Program on April 24, 2026, Mr. Darboe said he was encountering widespread calls for political change, arguing that citizens were dissatisfied with conditions in governance and public services.
“The Gambian people said they are tired, fed up, and want a change,” he said. “Gambians are ready for UDP to govern this country, to bring good governance, and to improve the welfare of citizens—their food, health, and education sectors.”
Mr. Darboe, a veteran opposition figure, said voters had expressed regret over previous political choices and suggested growing support for his party ahead of the next election cycle.
On corruption, he pledged that a UDP government would move quickly on any allegations identified by state audit bodies, including the Auditor General’s reports, and ensure prompt investigations and prosecutions where evidence exists.
“What we can do is to be serious in our actions on revelations of corruption and corrupt practices,” he said. “Let the police investigate straightaway. If there is evidence of foul play, the Attorney General will advise prosecution, and we will proceed. There will be no sacred cows.”
He also said his party would seek to amend provisions in the country’s anti-corruption legislation that, he argued, limit investigations into past conduct. According to Mr. Darboe, certain clauses in the Anti-Corruption Act prevent scrutiny of alleged offenses committed before the law took effect.
“We will remove that so that any act of corruption that happened in The Gambia should be subjected to investigation,” he said.
Mr. Darboe further accused President Adama Barrow’s administration of failing to adequately address corruption, describing it as widespread within the current government. He said corruption was not a prominent theme in the president’s public addresses, including his state of the nation speeches.
President Barrow has previously defended his administration’s governance record, though allegations of corruption have continued to surface in public discourse and civil society reports.
The UDP remains the country’s largest opposition party and is positioning itself ahead of the December 2026 presidential election as political activity begins to intensify.
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