By: Alieu Ceesay
Almameh Gibba, the new flagbearer of the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC), the No-to Alliance Movement associated with former President Yahya Jammeh, has defended the decision to contest the December 2026 presidential election under the No-to Alliance banner. He described the move as a calculated effort to preserve the movement’s political identity and electoral relevance rather than a surrender of its assets.
In an exclusive interview with Peter Gomez of West Coast Radio, Gibba said the choice followed internal consultations and received Jammeh’s endorsement. He explained that retaining the Noto Alliance name was deliberate, given its existing recognition among Gambians. He argued that introducing an entirely new brand so close to the polls risked complicating voter mobilization.
“We wanted to have a change of the name at least, come with a new brand, but we realized that the period before the election was very short,” Gibba said. “The moment you say Noto Alliance, they significantly know who we are. This was why we maintained the name.”
He rejected suggestions that the rebranding amounted to abandoning the party’s political capital. Instead, he characterized it as a strategic calculation intended to avoid unnecessary confrontation while securing the movement’s place in the electoral process. He added that the focus is now on the political objectives reflected in the movement’s emblem, colors, and motto.
Explaining the emblem, Gibba said the combat helmet symbolizes national security and territorial integrity, drawing on what he described as Jammeh’s longstanding priorities. “The helmet symbolizes security. It doesn’t mean it is a military issue,” he said. “We are trying to send a signal saying that, as the movement, these are various pillars that we do recognize to make sure the movement is here to promote and make sure security is in the hands of Gambians.”
Agriculture forms another central pillar, represented by a tractor. Gibba criticized what he described as declining mechanization under the current administration, contrasting the availability of farming equipment during Jammeh’s tenure with current conditions. He claimed that communities in Foni, including Kansala, Bondali and Jarra, now have significantly fewer tractors than before.
“What I’m trying to put across is, in Kansala alone, you can have many tractors where they’ve been given to prominent farmers, communities, youth groups,” he said. He pledged to prioritize agricultural production, revive what he called the abandoned Vision 2016 program, strengthen the Department of Agriculture, and invest in mechanization and modern tools to boost food production and reduce import dependence. He did not, however, specify targets for tractor distribution, financing or output increases.
Education and healthcare are represented by a syringe positioned over an open book. Gibba promised to restore free education, including at Gambia College, and expand access to higher education. He argued that earlier initiatives, such as the President’s Empowerment for Girls’ Education Program, had lost momentum and needed revival. “We want to revive it,” he said. “Education to the doorstep of every Gambian.”
He acknowledged that such commitments would require substantial public funding but contended that improved digitalization and more effective revenue collection could help. He questioned why property taxes and other revenue streams remain insufficiently digitized, suggesting better systems could reduce leakages and strengthen accountability. “The economic power of the Gambia will not work without perfect digitalization,” he said. He also called for stronger monitoring of the fisheries sector to curb revenue losses linked to foreign operators. No detailed financing plan for the proposed spending was outlined.
On healthcare, Gibba pledged to strengthen primary care, upgrade hospital infrastructure and ensure facilities have adequate equipment and personnel. He criticized the government for changes to healthcare charges, arguing that reversing fee increases after public complaints showed poor planning. He alleged that overcrowding and bed shortages persist at Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital and other facilities, contrasting current conditions with what he described as better management under Jammeh. However, he provided no documentary evidence during the interview.
“We will make sure that hospitals are hospitals,” he said, adding that a government led by his movement would both resource institutions and monitor their use. “As a leader, you have to take the bull by the horns,” he added, accusing the present administration of responding too slowly to national challenges.
Gibba also elaborated on the movement’s motto—progress, unity, self-reliance and humility—against the backdrop of divisions within the APRC and its decision to pursue a path separate from alignment with the National People’s Party. He said humility guided the choice to avoid prolonged confrontation over political identity and instead seek a peaceful route to electoral participation.
“Without humility, you cannot even build a country. Without humility, sectors will not work,” he said. He insisted the motto applies to all Gambians. On unity, he warned that political and social divisions could undermine development: “If we are united, we’ll be able to move as a country. Divided, the country will fall.”
He argued that self-reliance requires contributions from individuals, communities, and government, rather than sole dependence on the state, citing food self-sufficiency as an example. He also urged public officials and political leaders to show greater humility, stressing accountability and a willingness to listen to citizens.
