Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Patriotic Progressive Alliance (PPA), led by Dr. Ousman Gajigo, has dissolved its merger with Gambia For All (GFA), announcing instead that it will throw its weight behind the Unite-NUP alliance in the run-up to December’s presidential election.
The decision marks a significant reshuffling within the opposition landscape, barely months after PPA and GFA had unified into a single political entity, a move both parties had described at the time as a strategic step toward national renewal and stronger opposition consolidation.
In a statement shared with The Gambia Journal, PPA explained that the very rationale behind its earlier merger with GFA, namely the belief that opposition consolidation was essential, is what has now driven it to part ways with its former partner.
“But we have now reached a situation where it is obvious that there are going to be two main opposition groups, and there is very little time left to fully prepare for the December 2026 election. At this late stage in the game, it is imperative to make clear where we stand,” the party said.
According to PPA, GFA is still working through its own internal process of deciding which coalition to align with, but an irreconcilable disagreement emerged between the two parties over the timeline for concluding that process.
While GFA has preferred to take more time, PPA’s leadership insists that the moment for clarity is now, not later, given the shrinking window before the December 5 election.
Why Unite-NUP
Explaining its choice, PPA said the Unite-NUP alliance represents what it considers the natural core around which genuine opposition unity can be built and one capable of delivering the transformation many Gambians have been demanding.
“This group has the combination of ambition, competence, and new ideas that are central to bringing a new dawn in Gambian politics,” the party said.
The Unite-NUP alliance was formally sealed on August 4, 2026, when the UNITE Party and the National Unity Party (NUP) signed a Memorandum of Understanding at a ceremony held at Pencha MI Hall, Paradise Suites Hotel. UNITE leader and Bakau Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda signed on behalf of his party, while NUP leader Dr. Lamin J. Darbo signed for his.
The two parties described the partnership as anchored on a shared commitment to democratic governance, national unity, accountable leadership, and inclusive development and have pledged to jointly contest the December polls against the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) and President Adama Barrow.
No Personal Rancour, Says Gajigo
Despite the split, Dr. Gajigo was keen to stress that the disagreement with the GFA is procedural rather than personal. He said he retains deep respect for the leadership of GFA, describing its officials as individuals of integrity and principle.
“We just happen to disagree with them on the urgency of making our position clear for 2026,” he said.
PPA and GFA had announced their merger on January 31, 2026, retaining the GFA name, following weeks of internal deliberations that both parties said had exposed broad agreement on the country’s governance challenges. The merger was framed at the time as a response to what the parties called three decades of institutional decline driven by mismanagement and corruption.
The Gambia Journal will continue to follow developments within the opposition coalition talks as the December 5 election approaches.
Leave a Reply