The United Democratic Party (UDP) has strongly criticized Marr Nyang, Executive Director of Gambia Participates, for what it calls “misleading and offensive” statements about UDP leader Ousainou Darboe’s role in the country’s constitutional reform process.
Nyang claimed at a National Dialogue hosted by the Center for Research and Policy Development that Darboe single-handedly determines whether The Gambia adopts a new constitution.
The UDP rejected Nyang’s assertion in a press statement, clarifying that Darboe’s stance reflects the party’s collective position, not a personal agenda. The UDP insists on reintroducing the 2020 Draft Constitution, crafted by the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) after extensive consultations, as the only document meeting the standards of public inclusion. The party has repeatedly opposed the current “Barrow Draft,” citing its lack of proper public consultation.
“The Gambian people deserve to be consulted on what laws they want to subject themselves to,” the UDP stated, emphasizing that their position aligns with public sentiment. The party cited a 2024 Afrobarometer survey conducted by the Center for Research and Policy Development—the same body hosting Nyang’s remarks—which found that 67% of Gambians support reintroducing the 2020 Draft Constitution to the National Assembly for amendments and a referendum.
The UDP called Nyang’s remarks “dishonest” and urged him to correct his narrative, arguing that framing their political stance misrepresents most Gambians’ will. The party reiterated its commitment to a transparent and inclusive constitutional process, urging the government to prioritize the 2020 draft to move the reform forward.
