By Fatou Sillah
Aji Yam Secka, the deputy party leader of the United Democratic Party (UDP), has called on opposition parties to unite behind a coalition led by veteran opposition leader Ousainou Darboe, arguing that the UDP is best positioned to lead a unified challenge against President Adama Barrow in the 2026 presidential election.
In an interview with Kerr Fatou, Ms. Secka said the UDP remains actively engaged in ongoing coalition discussions with other opposition parties and expressed confidence that the negotiations would ultimately produce an agreement.
She said the party continues to advocate for a party-led alliance, maintaining that the UDP’s electoral strength and national support make it the natural choice to lead any coalition.
“We are in coalition negotiations, and the UDP is fully involved. We believe there will be a coalition, but we are advocating for a party-led alliance,” Ms. Secka said. “We are the biggest party, and in many countries, the party with the majority leads. Give the devil its due—let us allow Ousainou Darboe to lead this time.”
Ms. Secka also argued that public sentiment has shifted against President Barrow’s administration, citing the rising cost of living, increasing poverty, and growing public dissatisfaction as issues she believes will shape the outcome of next year’s election.
She said those concerns have strengthened the opposition’s prospects and expressed confidence that Mr. Darboe is well positioned to lead a united opposition campaign despite his previous unsuccessful presidential bids.
According to Ms. Secka, Mr. Darboe’s decades of political experience and long-standing commitment to democratic change make him the most suitable candidate to lead a coalition seeking to unseat the incumbent.
She appealed to other opposition parties to place national interest above partisan considerations and support the UDP’s proposal for a coalition built around the party’s leadership with clearly negotiated agreements among its partners.
“Let us put The Gambia first, not H.E. Darboe or ourselves,” she said. “Darboe has been in the game for a long time and has experience. Let us all join him. A party-led coalition is what we are advocating. We should all join the United Democratic Party and have concrete agreements.”
Coalition talks among opposition parties have intensified ahead of the 2026 presidential election as political leaders explore possible alliances aimed at presenting a united front against President Barrow, who is expected to seek another term in office. While several parties have publicly expressed support for opposition cooperation, negotiations over the structure and leadership of a potential coalition remain ongoing.
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