By Seedy Jobe
The United Democratic Party (UDP)-led Gambia First Coalition formalised its partnership and secured the backing of three political leaders at a signing ceremony on Sunday, November 15, 2026, ahead of The Gambia’s December 5 presidential election.
At the UDP bureau in Manjai, party leader and presidential candidate Ousainu Darboe welcomed Momodou Bah, a former presidential aspirant and leader of the AFRO Movement, Dr. Dumbuya, leader of the Democratic Party, and Musa Jallow, leader of the GRDP. Senior alliance members, supporters, and journalists attended the ceremony.
Darboe described the signing as a sign of public confidence in the coalition’s ability to address the country’s problems. He said the alliance brought together people with the experience, expertise and commitment needed to govern.
He also said at least 3,000 young people had declared their intention to vote for the UDP the previous day, with many displaying their voter cards on Babucarr Bob Keita’s social media platform.
Darboe said he first met Bah in 2021 at the launch of Bah’s book on relations between Senegal and The Gambia and was impressed by his research. He said he had spoken with Dr. Dumbuya in the weeks leading up to the ceremony and was confident the Democratic Party leader would join the alliance. Darboe said he first heard Jallow discuss his political vision on Coffee Time and found that it aligned with the coalition’s priorities.
Speaking on behalf of the Democratic Party, Dr. Dumbuya said the alliance was working towards victory on December 5. He cited what he described as Darboe’s consistency over more than three decades and questioned whether the government had delivered on its 2016 pledge to improve electricity supply.
Jallow called for national unity, pointing to the red stripe of the Gambian flag as a symbol of the blood Gambians share. He said the GRDP had chosen to support Darboe because of his experience and knowledge, and urged young people to draw on the guidance of elders.
Bah said younger Gambians brought fresh ideas and vision to politics and that those contributions should be paired with the kind of experience and judgement he said Darboe offered.
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