Saikou Sawo, presidential candidate of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP)
By Fatou Sillah
The presidential candidate of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Saikou Sawo, has called on Gambians to support his bid ahead of the December 2026 elections, emphasizing that his party is already undertaking development-oriented initiatives despite not holding public office.
Speaking in an interview with West Coast Radio, Sawo highlighted the PPP’s commitment to national progress through self-funded projects, which he said demonstrate the party’s leadership values and dedication to service.
“We need their support, and we champion a lot of initiatives that would actually benefit Gambians. We are not even in office yet; we are not elected officials, but we are using our own funding to do some of these initiatives, and that shows the principle we stand on,” he stated.
Sawo also underscored the importance of national unity, urging citizens to prioritize collective progress over ethnic or regional divisions
“We want a better Gambia. We want a Gambia that works for all—an inclusive nation regardless of tribe, race, or region. We want Gambians to work as one,” he said.
Reinforcing his message, he noted that everyday interactions among citizens are not defined by ethnic identity, calling for similar unity in national development efforts.
“When I came here, I didn’t ask what tribe anyone was from before I sat down. When I go to the store to buy commodities, they don’t ask me if I’m Mandinka or Serere, so we need to be able to work together as one,” he added.
He further encouraged greater collaboration and long-term planning in addressing national challenges.
“We need to have more like-minded people to share ideas, to collaborate, and to do things that would benefit the whole of Gambia. We need to think long term now as a country,” he said.
Sawo also cautioned against what he described as unrealistic comparisons between The Gambia and more developed countries, directing his remarks at Ismaila Ceesay. He called for more thoughtful and grounded contributions to national discourse, while acknowledging that government achievements should be recognized when deserved.
“So if you come in here knowing all this is happening, and then you come in here to say, ‘Hey, Gambia’s looking like Dubai,’ it’s an insult to Gambia. If you put in the work, then you have the bragging rights to say, ‘I did put in the work.’ We deserve the accolades, and we’re not here to criticize everything the government is doing. If they earn the bragging rights, we should give them credit where it’s due. But you can’t just make those blanket statements,” he said.
He added that Dr. Ceesay “knows better” but criticized his consistency in public commentary, concluding with personal remarks about his political trajectory and credibility.
“If you look at who he was five years ago and who he is today, he’s a complete disaster. I have no respect for that guy,” he said
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