By: Fatou Dahaba
Gambia for All Party of Veteran Politician and former Vice President Bakary Bunja Dabo has renewed its support for United Democratic Party leader Ousainou Darboe’s 2026 presidential bid, signing a fresh cooperation agreement with the UDP and its allies in what both sides described as a step toward political change and national renewal.
The signing ceremony took place on Tuesday at the UDP political bureau in Manjai, bringing together UDP officials, representatives of allied groups and supporters. Speakers framed the agreement as part of a broader effort to unite the opposition ahead of the December 2026 presidential election.
Addressing the gathering, UDP Secretary General and party leader Ousainou Darboe said the latest signings were meant to strengthen the alliance in both size and substance. “All these signings from when we started until today, 22nd September, do not only add numbers to us, to our existing alliance, but also add quality to our existing alliance,” he said.
Darboe told supporters that the coalition must remain disciplined and avoid being sidetracked by unproductive public arguments. “We must have our eye on the ball. We cannot be distracted by these frivolous and undefined debates that are going on in social media,” he said.
He described the 2026 vote as decisive for the country’s future, warning that failure by the opposition would be self-inflicted. “It is the most defining election. It is the most consequential election for The Gambia,” Darboe said. “We cannot blame anyone if we fail in 2026. We will blame ourselves.”
Darboe said a UDP-led government would focus on constitutional reform, a professional, non-partisan security sector, a politically neutral civil service, and economic reform. “I have committed myself to a one five-year term with the vision and mission of a national renewal,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of Gambia for All Secretary General Bakary Bunja Dabo, Hon. Bolong Sonko said the party was rejoining Darboe’s camp because it shared the UDP’s diagnosis of the country’s challenges and its proposed remedies.
“We have come today to renew that commitment because we are convinced we share similar hopes for the Gambian people, and Lawyer Darboe’s presidency will ensure a transformational reform for this country, which is literally crying out for help,” Sonko said.
He said the 2026 election comes at a difficult time for the country, citing “continuous deterioration in governance,” weak service delivery and worsening living conditions. “The legitimate aspiration of our citizens is for progress, development, security and the rule of law,” Sonko said.
Sonko also called on supporters of both parties to reject insults, tribal politics and violence during the campaign period. “We shall not hold back; we shall take action,” he said.
He appealed to members and sympathizers of both parties to fully support the pact, describing it as the strongest available platform for political change. “We appeal to all members and sympathizers of both parties to uphold the principles of this agreement and accord it their full support, as it represents the most credible path forward for a change in government and a national renewal,” Sonko said.
The agreement adds Gambia for All to a growing opposition grouping around the UDP as parties position themselves for what Darboe called the most consequential election in the country’s recent history. Both sides presented the pact as more than a numbers game, insisting that shared policy priorities and campaign discipline would determine whether the opposition can convert alliance-building into electoral success in December 2026.
