By Fatou Sillah
Essa Mbye Faal, the party leader and secretary general of the APP Sobeya, said in a radio interview that he considers himself among the most scrutinized presidential aspirants in The Gambia, pointing to his public record and growing recognition ahead of the 2026 elections.
Speaking on West Coast Radio, Mr. Faal said he believed that voters were increasingly placing their trust in his leadership, describing a political climate in which many Gambians are seeking a candidate capable of meeting expectations and addressing national concerns.
“I know that Gambians trust me,” he said. “If you go around the streets and ask people who they trust to take The Gambia to the next level, you will hear my name mentioned because of the kind of work I have done and the way I have engaged with the public over the years.”
Mr. Faal attributed his visibility in part to his frequent appearances in the media and his role in the Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations Commission (TRRC), where he served as lead counsel. He said that experience had subjected him to sustained public scrutiny.
“I think I am the most vetted Gambian presidential aspirant,” he said. “I have worked in this country for over two and a half years, being on television almost every working day, doing my work in front of everybody.”
Addressing the prospect of opposition alliances, Mr. Faal warned against a repeat of the divisions seen in the 2021 elections. He said voters were unlikely to forgive a fragmented opposition in 2026, emphasizing the need for a credible alternative to President Adama Barrow.
“They will not forgive us simply because the Gambian people want a better and more credible alternative to Adama Barrow,” he said. “They don’t want simply an alternative.”
Mr. Faal said that voters were looking for a leader they could trust, someone capable of delivering on promises and responsive to public concerns. He added that independence from outside influence was also a key expectation among the electorate.
“They want someone who is not really strangled by external interests or influences,” he said. “They want someone they know would be able to deliver on their wishes and aspirations.”
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