The 2026 political wind is blowing and it is not yet time for the presidential election. But it seems politicians are warming up. UDP and NPP need to put their houses in order. This is why Lawyer Ousainou Darboe received some UDP supporters at his office on Kairaba Avenue and advised them.
He said: “Let us speak with one voice. That is the essence of the United Democratic Party. Let us deepen our unity, not only among ourselves but especially among our youth. In any large group, there will be disagreements and provocations. It is healthy to have differing views, but it is essential to maintain respect for one another. “ The veteran politician is confident that UDP is going to win the 2026 presidential election.
He went on to say that personal attacks and internal sabotage ultimately harm the party itself. He cited recent instances of party members targeting Amadou Sanneh, a prominent figure within the UDP. He encouraged members to resolve conflicts privately rather than airing grievances publicly.
Addressing growing factionalism within the UDP, he strongly denounced the emergence of internal camps aligned with individual figures. “There should be no such thing as Talib’s camp, Yankuba’s camp or Rohey’s camp. There should be only the UDP camp,” he further advised.
But in an audio, Rohey Malick Lowe made it clearly that she has no camp, stating that she only has her work. She vented her anger that some UDP supporters accused her of telling lies to President Barrow but she denied giving President Barrow any information.
On the other hand, it seems Kebba Madi Bojang has a bone to pick with NPP. It is rumoured that he is on the verge of registering his party. It is said that this is why the NPP informed its esteemed members, supporters and the general public that it has come to its attention that some individuals are moving across various communities collecting voter registration details and signatures or thumbprints from NPP members, purportedly in the name of the party. “The NPP wants to categorically state that it has neither sanctioned nor endorsed any such activity,” stated the party.
But Dahaba’s audio stated how Kebba Madi Bojang has been treated by NPP. For him, it does not tell well at all. Dahaba is a strong supporter of President Barrow and the NPP. There is no doubt about that.
Musa Joof, NRP North Bank Regional Chairman, in an audio as well, supported what Dahaba has said in his audio. He added his voice that Kebba Madi Bojang has done a good job for NPP and he deserves to be treated better. “He has a big following. Those who are around President Barrow do not tell him the reality. What Dahaba said in his audio is true. Kebba Madi Bojang has been sidelined. NPP has not treated him fairly. President Barrow should sit with him and find out what has gone wrong. Always tell your friend the truth,” he noted.
This is what my NPP friend had to say: “I have already spoken to Kebba Madi Bojang. It is sad that he has not been treated fairly. Those who surround President Barrow do not tell him the truth. They are there for their own interest. I blame President Barrow. He should not have allowed Kebba Madi Bojang’s case to happen. You see, the same thing happened to me. You know what I did for NPP. You are a living witness. I spent my own money on the party. What did I get instead? They started fighting me. It is only the new comers in the party who are doing all this. I have been supporting President Barrow since the 2016 coalition. ”
However, the NPP is preparing for the 2026 presidential election. This is why it officially inaugurated its new bureau at Bundung. During the event, President Barrow said: “If you are united as one, no force can break the NPP. The same party will continue to rule the country for long. Therefore let us embrace positive politics in a peaceful manner for the betterment of the party.”
He continued: “Under the NPP government, over 1000 kilometers of roads have been constructed in both rural and urban areas of The Gambia, including significant projects. Remote communities have seen tangible improvements: electricity access, clean water supply for humans and livestock.”
How ready is the opposition for the presidential election in 2026? Will there be an opposition coalition to prevent President Barrow from achieving his third-term bid? Who will then be the flag bearer if there is a coalition?
Some political analysts have suggested that the opposition will argue over who will be their flag bearer. They further said that if this is the case, how will they defeat President Barrow? “It will not be good for them if they have more than one candidate. They will split their votes in favour of President Barrow and it is going to be a disaster for them,” one of them posited.
This is why the leader of APP-SOBEYA alliance, Essa Faal, intends to unite the opposition. According to him, their alliance wants to end the hardship Gambians are facing.
In an interview on West Coast Radio’s Coffee Time with Peter Gomez, Mayor Talib Bensuda revealed his intention to pursue national political ambitions, setting 2026, the year of next presidential election, as the pivotal year for his next move. “I would like to be in a position where I can have the highest impact on all of The Gambia. In 2026, I will make that decision,” he stated.
The question now is: Is he going to contest in the 2026 presidential election? Is he intending to wallow in political gerrymandering? Let us wait and see.
The CEO of Vision Development Foundation, Modou Turo Darboe, has expressed readiness to fully participate in party politics in the 2026 presidential election. “Come 2026, I might join any political party or come up as independent but I must be fully involved into politics,” he announced. Probably he is going to put down his philanthropic gown and wear a political one. Time will tell.
Former diplomat and deputy CEO at the OIC-Gambia Secretariat, Ambassador Essa Bokarr Sey, also disclosed he would run for presidency in 2026. “As a person who was born in The Gambia, a country I owe a lot to, I deem it fit to be part of the forthcoming 2026 presidential election, to help salvage our nation democratically. Our team is well organized and is open to receiving suggestions from every citizen. Our first priorities are youth, women, and children,” he declared.
Bakary Badjie, a No-to -Alliance National Assembly Member, intends to contest in the 2026 presidential election but this did not go down well with former President Yahya Jammeh, who has a bone to pick with the lawmaker. But does NAM Badjie care? Is it not his constitutional right to contest in the 2026 presidential election?
It has been rumoured that Mama Kandeh, leader of Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC), is about to form an alliance with President Adama Barrow’s NPP. “I am just hearing about it,” he said in an audio. He noted that GDC is a legally registered political party with strong structures across the country.
“President Barrow has not reached out to me about forming an alliance. I am not saying he will not but he has not done it yet. He has all the right to reach out to me or any other party because GDC is also reaching out to other political parties. If Barrow invites me, I will go and listen and if I have any agreement with Barrow, I will make it public without fear. I don’t have a problem with other parties forming alliances. So nobody should care about me forming an alliance with any party,” he further stated.
During the inauguration of NPP headquarters at Bundung, the NPP National Women Mobiliser, Maimuna Baldeh, told President Barrow: “There will be a mass movement from GDC and UDP to NPP. You have a heavy task to carry.”
Will the NPP horse again carry President Barrow into State House? The year 2026 will tell.
