By Alieu Ceesay
The National Builders Party (NBP) has formally withdrawn from the December presidential election and endorsed the Unite Party presidential candidate Talib Ahmed Bensouda, boosting the opposition coalition’s prospects less than a month before voters head to the polls.
Party leader Ansu Sanneh announced the decision on Friday at a gathering in Fajara, confirming that the Independent Electoral Commission had been officially notified of his withdrawal. Sanneh said the move followed careful reflection on the Unite Movement’s track record and a desire to prioritize national development over personal political ambition.
“Every decision we make as leaders must begin with the people who will live with the consequences and place their hopes in our choices,” Sanneh told supporters. “Today, as leader of the National Builders Party, I announce that our party will join Coalition 2026, led by the Unite Movement and His Excellency Talib Ahmed Bensouda.”
The endorsement is expected to strengthen Unite’s position by bringing additional grassroots support and organizational capacity into the coalition. NBP officials described the alliance as a pragmatic step to consolidate opposition votes and avoid a fragmented challenge in the December contest.
Ebrima Dibba, National President of the Unite Movement, welcomed the development, saying it reflected a shared commitment to victory. “Our hopes were already high, but today they are even higher,” Dibba said, noting that the two parties share a vision centered on unity and progress.
Talib Ahmed Bensouda, who leads both the Unite Movement and the broader Coalition 2026, personally received Sanneh and his team.
Addressing the former rival-turned-ally, Bensouda said: “Mr Ansu Sanneh, we want you to know you are not only joining a platform of integrity; you are joining a platform of transformation and vision. In sha Allah, in 2026 we will declare victory.”
Bensouda added that the expanded coalition maintains a clear trajectory focused on uplifting livelihoods and expanding economic opportunities for Gambians. Analysts say the late-stage alliance could prove significant in a crowded field, particularly if it helps Unite present a more unified front against the incumbent.
