By Makutu Manneh
The chairman of the Coalition Taskforce Mediation Committee (CTMC), Professor Yerro Mballow, has announced that the opposition coalition will name its presidential candidate for the December 5, 2026, general election no later than July 11.
Speaking in an interview with Bitilo, Professor Mballow confirmed that nominations for the coalition’s flag-bearer position are currently open and that the grouping is determined to end the Barrow administration’s hold on power.
He outlined the eligibility framework governing the selection process, explaining that prospective candidates must satisfy approximately 30 criteria drawn from two sources: the Constitution of the Gambia and the country’s electoral laws.
On the mechanics of the selection process, Professor Mballow said the choice of flag-bearer will require the endorsement of at least 75 percent of participating members through a preliminary resolution, after which the candidate will be chosen in a single round of voting conducted through a weighted electoral college system—a method he said is specifically designed to forestall disputes over the result.
“Party strength is also important for this weighted electoral college system. It will be measured by the last presidential election. How many percent these parties get from the last election? For the new parties, we will still number them; we have a method, and each of them will have a percentage,” he said.
Professor Mballow said the participating parties have demonstrated a willingness to make concessions in the national interest, reflecting what he described as broad public demand for a change in government. He stressed that the coalition-building process has been conducted with full transparency and impartiality, adding that delegates attending the committee’s meetings have consistently acknowledged its neutrality. He said decisions have been driven by the aspirations of ordinary Gambians rather than the preferences of any individual or party.
He expressed confidence that the coalition would reach a consensus agreement and successfully unseat President Adama Barrow in the December poll.
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