Peace and Development are inextricably linked and essential for political stability . Those who take this for granted must be living in fools paradise. The current conflicts in the African continent and in the world are glaring examples of the absence of peace and stability. No Nation can progress if its politics is more profitable than its development. When political antagonisms distort development strides in the country, voters might decide between continuity of development and political rethorics with no effect on their lives. In the 2021 elections, it was observed that the Provinces voted overwhelmingly for continuity of development under the ruling NPP government. The current proliferation of development activities in all sectors of the economy is gaining momentum on the side of the ruling NPP government. It cannot be taken for granted that it will not produce the desired political dividends for the ruling NPP government. This cannot be ordinarily dismissed in the political discourse. The objective conditions of the people will determine their political consciousness. Development is for nothing if it is not felt by the people. The more the people feel development, the more likely they will vote for continuity of development. This is a political reality. The question therefore, can the opposing contenders in the race to the State House, counter the trajectory of the winning spirit of the ruling NPP government in the 2026 elections. However, politics is not a personal property of any contender and therefore, overestimation and underestimation is not politically strategic for any political party. One can expect that the outcome of the 2026 elections will depend on the mood of the country and the people. Meanwhile, as we follow the pathways to making the Gambia a great Nation, we must be reminded that development cannot proceed in the absence of peace. The peace and security of the country is in our collective interest. Participation in politics is an exercise of right by all Gambians. The fact that His Excellency the President, Adama Barrow, in his address to the Nation in the House of Parliament called for a peaceful, free, and transparent elections in 2026, the Nation has no cause to worry. Political Parties and their supporters therefore, cannot afford to disunite the people and derail the process of development. The country’s democratic experience must remain intact.
