Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – A major political realignment ahead of The Gambia’s December 5, 2026 presidential election appears to have claimed its first high-profile casualty, with senior Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC) figure Hon. Omar Ceesay announcing his resignation from the party over its reported alliance with President Adama Barrow’s ruling National People’s Party (NPP).
Ceesay, one of the GDC’s prominent members, said he could not remain in a party that was moving toward supporting Barrow’s bid for a third presidential term.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Ceesay declared that his political journey with the GDC had come to an end.
“I cannot support any force or efforts aimed at empowering Uncle Sam to secure another term. Therefore, my end has finally come in the GDC,” he wrote, referring to President Barrow by his popular nickname.
His resignation comes amid mounting speculation that the GDC has decided to align itself with the ruling NPP instead of joining the opposition Coalition 2026, which is seeking to field a united challenger against Barrow.
Resignation reinforces alliance speculation
Although the GDC has publicly denied reaching any formal or informal agreement with the NPP, Ceesay’s departure is widely seen as the strongest indication yet that negotiations between the two parties have reached an advanced stage.
Sources familiar with the discussions say the GDC is expected to formally join the NPP-led political alliance on Wednesday in what would be one of the most significant political realignments ahead of the election.
According to the sources, GDC leader and Secretary General Mama Kandeh is scheduled to meet President Adama Barrow to sign a memorandum of understanding formalizing cooperation between the two parties.
Such an agreement would effectively end months of uncertainty over the GDC’s political direction and position the party alongside the governing coalition rather than the opposition bloc.
Jimara connection adds political significance
The rapprochement carries added political symbolism because both President Barrow and Mama Kandeh hail from Jimara Constituency in the Upper River Region (URR).
For more than a year, political observers have speculated that the two leaders, who share political roots in the same constituency, were exploring closer cooperation despite previously contesting against each other.
If finalized, the alliance would unite two influential political figures from Jimara and potentially strengthen the NPP’s electoral prospects in the Upper River Region while reshaping the political landscape nationally.
Blow to opposition coalition efforts
The reported GDC-NPP alliance also represents a setback for efforts by opposition parties to build a united front against President Barrow.
Coalition 2026 has been seeking to consolidate opposition support ahead of the December presidential election. However, the GDC’s apparent decision to side with the ruling party instead of joining the coalition further fragments the opposition vote.
For Omar Ceesay, however, the reported shift proved unacceptable. His resignation underscores that the emerging alliance is not without internal resistance and highlights the difficult choices facing party members as political alliances are redrawn ahead of one of The Gambia’s most closely watched elections in recent years.
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