The Gambia will go to the polls on 5 December to elect the next President, with reports indicating 25 aspirants have expressed interest to be nominated.
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has set 3 to 14 November 2026 for the nomination of presidential candidates.
The period, which opens on Monday, is expected to be the busiest nomination window in recent history, reflecting a crowded field of political parties, coalitions and independent aspirants seeking to succeed President Adama Barrow.
Among those expected to file are incumbent President Adama Barrow of the National People's Party (NPP), Lawyer Ousainu Darboe of the UDP-led Gambia First Coalition, and Kanifing Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda of UNITE and Coalition 2026, whose eligibility has come under debate following the Government White Paper on the Local Government Commission of Inquiry.
The IEC has published a calendar allocating specific dates to each aspirant and party for filing nomination papers, with UNITE and its coalition partners scheduled for 7 November.
To be nominated, an aspirant must satisfy constitutional requirements including citizenship, age, and support from registered voters across the country, and pay a prescribed nomination deposit.
The IEC is expected to publish the final list of nominated candidates after vetting, paving the way for official campaigning ahead of the December poll
