Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – Ousainou Darboe, leader of the United Democratic Party (UDP), said in an interview with Eye Africa TV that his party has always been willing to enter coalition talks but warned that negotiations should not begin with preset conditions that preempt genuine discussion.
Darboe recalled past alliances to illustrate the UDP’s flexibility, noting the party’s coalition with the PPP and GPP in 2001 and with the NRP in 2006, while adding that the UDP contested alone in 2011. “We have never turned back any arrangement in a discussion to form a coalition,” he said.
Responding to recent remarks by Essa Faal, Darboe described Faal as “a highly respected person” with admirable intellect and love for the country but said preconditions, such as excluding the 2021 presidential election from consideration, risk making talks “very difficult.”
“You don’t enter discussions with difficulties,” Darboe said, adding he hopes Faal’s position will evolve once genuine talks begin.
Darboe also stressed that the UDP does not underestimate its own ability to win elections solo but said political reality and public opinion matter.
“If there is no coalition, it is right that people look towards the political force that has the biggest ability to win without a coalition,” he said, urging rival parties to rally behind the strongest contender where appropriate to secure victory.
Turning to President Adama Barrow’s National People’s Party (NPP), Darboe predicted that the president will not run entirely alone. “They even call it ‘a grand alliance,’ so he is not going alone,” Darboe said, challenging Barrow to test his standalone strength.
“If NPP has that political standing they pretend to have, let Barrow ask his allies to stay aside and let’s compete for the presidential seat, and see if Barrow will not see jinns.”
On the reliability of opinion polls, Darboe urged caution. Noting that many current polls date back more than a year, he argued that “a lot can happen before the 2026 elections” and pointed to international examples to underline that polls are not definitive. “Polls are not a conclusive reality,” he said.
Darboe dismissed criticism from Minister Demba Sabally, who previously described some UDP supporters as a “mobile crowd.”
Accusing Sabally of betrayal for leaving Mama Kandeh to join Barrow, Darboe called him an opportunist and rejected the characterization of UDP supporters. He said recent rallies and fresh recruits to the party demonstrated growing support and accused the ruling party of coercing attendance at its events.
As Gambians move toward the 2026 elections, Darboe’s comments underline the UDP’s dual posture: open to coalition-building but confident in its own electoral strength, while warning against preconditions that could undermine fair negotiations.
