By Makutu Manneh
Lamin J. Darboe, leader of the National Unity Party (NUP), said President Adama Barrow should not assume victory in The Gambia’s December 2026 presidential election, arguing that the political landscape remains fluid and could shift significantly in the months ahead.
Speaking on The Brunch on Kerr Fatou, Mr. Darboe described the campaign as “a marathon, not a sprint,” cautioning against what he characterized as premature celebration by the incumbent.
“This election is a marathon, not a sprint, so let the president not start jubilating. There will be a major realignment between now and December,” he said.
Mr. Darboe argued that a substantial bloc of independent voters—those who do not identify with any political party—could prove decisive in determining the outcome of the election.
He said these voters are less driven by partisan loyalty than by a desire to support the candidate they believe is best positioned to address the country’s challenges.
“For them, The Gambia is the primary objective,” he said.
According to Mr. Darboe, available political data suggests that independent voters constitute the largest segment of the electorate, making it difficult to predict the election’s outcome months before polling day.
He said political parties should pay closer attention to this group, noting that their support cannot be taken for granted and that party leaders would need to strengthen their campaigns if they hope to earn independent votes.
“So this election for 2026 is far from settled,” Mr. Darboe said. “It is not settled yet. True, the partisans will go with their base with their political parties, but there are also independents that we are not factoring in, and those independents carry the possibility of tipping the elections,” Darboe noted.
His remarks come as political parties continue positioning themselves ahead of the December election, with coalition discussions and shifting alliances expected to shape the campaign in the months leading up to the vote.
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