Lamin K. Saidy
By Fatou Sillah
Lamin K. Saidy, President Adama Barrow’s adviser on youth affairs, said the opposition will fail in its effort to block the president from seeking a third term, predicting a “clear victory” for Mr. Barrow in the 2026 election.
In an interview broadcast on Eye Africa TV, Mr. Saidy dismissed the “No to Third Term” campaign promoted by opposition parties, arguing that Gambians would ultimately endorse the incumbent at the polls.
“All those against President Barrow’s third term know very well that by all indications, President Barrow is going to win the 2026 presidential elections with a clear victory, and that is what will happen,” Mr. Saidy said.
The adviser criticized opposition groups for focusing on term-limit objections, contending they should instead persuade voters through policy proposals.
“Why are they saying no to a third term when they are going to elections?” he asked. “Where you should fight ‘no to a third term’ is to convince people to vote against President Barrow—and they will not succeed in that.”
Mr. Saidy singled out the United Democratic Party, accusing it of lacking an agenda for governance and predicting an electoral setback similar to the defeat of the 2019–2020 protest movement known as “Three Years Jotna.”
“It is very disgraceful that a political party like the UDP will go on a campaign saying no to a third term,” he said, referring to remarks from the chairman of the Brikama Area Council. “The worst defeat that they are going to encounter is going to be in 2026. The UDP has no agenda to sell to Gambians.”
The youth adviser said the government’s achievements over the president’s tenure, including what he described as gains in peace, human rights, and economic development, justify Mr. Barrow’s bid for another term.
“The first ten years of President Barrow’s leadership are very successful, very transformative,” he said. “The changes that have happened in this country are unprecedented… development is rapid and transformative in the lives of people.”
Mr. Saidy cited improvements in education, job creation, and media freedom and said the administration remains committed to anti-corruption reforms.
“We have our challenges here and there,” he acknowledged, “but in the face of everything the world is dealing with, we were resilient. We stood our ground to make sure that we kept moving.”