Lamin Ceesay Says 90% of Civil Servants Will Vote Against Barrow in December Election

By Fatou Sillah

Lamin Ceesay, the United Democratic Party National Assembly member for Kiang West, has predicted that an overwhelming majority of Gambian civil servants will vote against President Adama Barrow in the Dec. 5 presidential election, citing what he described as widespread dissatisfaction with the government’s performance.

In an interview with Kerr Fatou, Mr. Ceesay said he believed as many as 90 percent of civil servants would oppose the incumbent president at the polls. He did not provide polling data or other evidence to support the estimate.

“I can tell you for free, 90 percent of the civil servants in the country are going to vote against the incumbent come December 5th, 2026,” he said.

Mr. Ceesay argued that frustration over the cost of living, electricity, security, and the delivery of public services had created conditions favorable to political change. The challenge for the opposition, he said, was turning that dissatisfaction into votes.

He said problems facing The Gambia were serious enough that, in other countries, they could result in the removal of an incumbent government. Opposition parties, he added, were discussing strategies for converting public discontent into an electoral victory.

Mr. Ceesay also pointed to undecided and what he described as “silent” voters as potentially significant blocs in the election. He said they included civil servants, civil society members, and young people, as well as employees of the security services and government institutions.

Among those groups, he specifically cited members of the police, military, and immigration services, along with employees of government ministries, departments, and agencies.

Mr. Ceesay said many of those workers may be reluctant to publicly disclose their political preferences because of their positions but could express their dissatisfaction privately at the ballot box.

He attributed that dissatisfaction to concerns ranging from rising prices and unreliable electricity to security and the quality of public services.

Mr. Ceesay’s assertion that 90 percent of civil servants intend to vote against President Barrow represents his assessment of the electorate and was not accompanied by survey data demonstrating that level of opposition.

President Barrow is seeking to retain power in the Dec. 5 election as opposition parties intensify their campaigns and efforts to mobilize voters ahead of the vote.