By Fatou Dahaba
President Adama Barrow on Tuesday formally filed his nomination papers at the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) as the candidate of the National People’s Party (NPP), seeking a third five-year mandate ahead of the December 5 presidential election.
Speaking to journalists after the process, the 61-year-old incumbent called for peace, stability and national unity, urging Gambians to remain law-abiding throughout the electoral period. He said the country must continue to uphold social cohesion and protect its democratic environment as it heads into another important vote.
Barrow outlined his priorities for the next five years, pledging continuity in his development agenda. He highlighted expanding roads and electricity networks; improving community access to essential social services such as health and education; modernizing agriculture; improving market access; strengthening food security; and investing in young people to expand opportunities for self-employment and economic participation.
He also committed to strengthening state institutions through sound policies, stronger laws, and respect for the rule of law, reiterating his government’s commitment to democratic governance and national development.
On the contentious issue of presidential term limits, Barrow restated that he has always made his position clear that he believes in them, while noting that some democratic countries operate without such restrictions. He cited examples such as Germany and Britain, arguing that effective leadership does not necessarily depend on term limits. Ultimately, he said, leadership rests on the will of the people, who decide who should serve as president.
“The Gambian people are the people who elect a president. They decide a president’s fate. So it is up to the Gambian people to decide whether I should be president or not,” he told reporters.
Barrow added that if he secures an absolute majority in the National Assembly—the threshold required to pass a new constitution—he would ensure the country gets a new constitutional order that includes presidential term limits.
His remarks responded to questions on whether a third term would be his last and whether he would commit to delivering a new constitution before leaving office.
The nomination marks a key step in Barrow’s bid to retain the presidency under the NPP banner. It follows years of debate over constitutional reform in The Gambia. The 1997 Constitution currently in force imposes no term limits. Earlier draft constitutions that would have introduced them failed to secure the required three-quarters majority in the National Assembly, including a 2020 version and a later draft rejected in 2025. Barrow first came to power in 2016 after defeating long-time ruler Yahya Jammeh as a coalition candidate, then formed the NPP and won re-election in 2021.
His appearance at the IEC drew large numbers of supporters, party officials and media attention as the nomination window, which runs until November 14, gathers momentum. Opposition figures, including United Democratic Party leader Ousainou Darboe, have already filed, while the field remains fragmented amid alliance-building efforts.
With nominations nearly complete, attention is expected to shift to the campaign trail, where Barrow will seek to persuade voters to renew his mandate based on his government’s record and future promises.
