By Seedy Jobe
A senior opposition figure has urged political parties in The Gambia to unite ahead of the 2026 presidential election, warning that another five-year term for President Adama Barrow would endanger the country’s democratic institutions.
Momodou Charreh Gibba, the Gunjur Ward councilor and a prominent member of the United Democratic Party (UDP), said in a statement circulated this week that the nation faced a defining moment and that continued fragmentation within the opposition could have grave consequences.
“The Gambia stands at a critical crossroads that demands careful, sober, and patriotic reflection,” Mr. Gibba said. “Another five years of President Adama Barrow would be catastrophic and could lead to the further erosion, if not the total collapse, of our democratic institutions.”
Mr. Gibba argued that the UDP, the country’s largest opposition party, is best positioned to anchor a winning coalition in the next election. Citing what he described as “empirical facts and electoral realities,” he said a party-led coalition would simplify the process of choosing a presidential candidate and reduce internal disputes among opposition groups.
“Empirical facts and electoral realities clearly identify this party as the United Democratic Party (UDP),” he stated. “A party-led coalition framework would significantly ease the challenge of selecting a flag bearer and reduce internal friction.”
He singled out the UDP leader, Ousainou Darboe, a veteran opposition politician and former vice president, as a credible presidential contender, praising his experience and commitment to democratic governance.
“No fair-minded Gambian can deny the experience, maturity, and democratic consciousness of Lawyer A.N.M. Ousainou Darboe as a presidential candidate,” Gibba said, calling on opposition leaders to rally behind him.
The councilor appealed for restraint and compromise among opposition aspirants, urging them to put national interests ahead of personal ambition.“This is a moment that requires humility and sacrifice,” he said. “We must swallow our pride and prevent personal egos from overriding the national interest. The urgency of our situation calls for unity, not division.”
Mr. Gibba warned that failure to coalesce around a party-led coalition could weaken the opposition and inadvertently strengthen the incumbent. “Failure to adopt a party-led coalition risks degenerating into mere collusion,” he said, adding that such an outcome would ultimately benefit Mr. Barrow.
He concluded by calling on Gambians and opposition leaders to quickly agree on a coalition framework and then engage in substantive discussions on power-sharing arrangements and a shared reform agenda, including the adoption of a new constitution.
“The Gambian people must embrace one another, settle quickly on a party-led coalition, and thereafter engage in constructive dialogue on power-sharing arrangements and a common reform agenda,” he said.