By Seedy Jobe
The leader of the People’s Alliance Party (PAP), Ebrima Tabora Manneh, on Saturday used a political rally to criticize the government’s record on development and governance while pledging what he described as a more inclusive and effective alternative if elected.
Addressing supporters gathered in Lamin on April 19, 2026, Mr. Manneh said his party’s appeal cut across ethnic divisions, which he argued distinguished PAP from its rivals.
He attributed the country’s economic and social difficulties to what he described as poor leadership, saying public confidence in the current administration had eroded.
“We have seen the hardship on us. The way people are governed, especially by this government we have no hope in, increases the hardship on us. And they are not good at what they are doing,” he said.
Mr. Manneh contrasted his party with the incumbent government, asserting that PAP would perform better if given the mandate.
“What we will be able to do will be more than what the current government is doing. If we assume power, it will be better than the past three governments,” he said.
A central theme of his speech was national unity, as he urged Gambians to reject ethnic divisions in politics.
“Let no one allow tribalism among us. That’s what we always advocate,” he said, adding that a PAP-led government would “end the tribalism issue in this country.”
He also sought to project PAP as internally different from other political parties, pointing to its organizational structure.
“If you even look at the structure of PAP, the way we run it is different from these other political parties,” he said.
Mr. Manneh concluded by framing his message around collective national ownership and unity, urging citizens to place national interest above political rivalry.
“What we want Gambian people to know is that we own this country, you own it… No politician is worth it. We want The Gambia to be the best,” he said.
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