By Fatou Sillah
Saikou Sawo, presidential candidate of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), has emphasized that no single political party can secure electoral victory alone in The Gambia, underscoring the need for opposition collaboration ahead of the December 5 presidential election.
Speaking in an interview on For the People by the People, Sawo said the current political landscape makes it imperative for parties to form coalitions or alliances if they are serious about winning power and implementing meaningful change.
“Winning an election in The Gambia, especially in today’s climate, honestly, is not a one-party solution; no single party can win an election in The Gambia, no matter how good or amazing your agenda is,” he stated.
Sawo stressed the importance of engaging like-minded political actors and aligning strategies to improve electoral prospects. “You need to also work with like-minded parties, collaborate with them, see how we can synchronize and come together as one; we stand a better chance,” he said.
He revealed that the PPP has already initiated behind-the-scenes discussions with various political leaders to explore potential partnerships. “Behind the scenes, PPP has been reaching out to different political party leaders to see how we can work well together, whether it be a coalition or forming an alliance,” he disclosed.
Addressing concerns about leadership ambitions within coalition arrangements, Sawo maintained that his focus is on collective success rather than personal gain.
“I’m not hungry for leadership. Whoever is elected based on our TOR or framework, we will fully support whoever emerges as the leader, whether it could be me or it could be anybody else,” he said.
He further advocated for transparency in coalition agreements, noting that publicly defined commitments would enhance accountability.
“We agreed on term limits, we agreed on constitutional reform, we agreed on economic reform, and we agreed on fighting corruption. If the leader goes in there and does something contrary, it’s easy to say, ‘Hey, you contradicted everything you said,” he added.
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