Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – Minister of Information, Media, and Broadcasting Services Dr. Ismaila Ceesay has dismissed Coalition 2026 as a one-party arrangement, describing it as a “monolition” rather than a genuine political coalition.
Dr. Ceesay made the remarks during an appearance on the West Coast radio’s Coffee Time Show, where he questioned the composition and continued relevance of the opposition coalition ahead of the 2026 presidential election.
According to the minister, several political parties that initially participated in the coalition-building process have since withdrawn, leaving what he described as essentially one political party within the arrangement.
“Name me one political party in that coalition apart from United,” Dr Ceesay said, questioning whether an arrangement dominated by a single party can properly be described as a coalition.
‘Monolition’
Dr. Ceesay coined the term “monolition,” combining “mono” and “coalition,” to describe what he sees as a political arrangement in which one party dominates.
He also criticized the broader opposition coalition-building process, describing it as one of the most confusing and “comical” coalition exercises he had witnessed.
The minister argued that the opposition parties involved lacked a common ideology, shared values, and a coherent political program. He claimed that their main point of agreement was their desire to remove President Adama Barrow from office.
“The only thing they have in common is that there is a driver in the driver’s seat,” he said, referring to President Barrow and the opposition’s stated objective of changing the government.
Questions over opposition unity
Dr. Ceesay further questioned the strength of Coalition 2026 following the reported withdrawal of several political parties and prominent figures involved in the coalition process.
He also pointed to separate alliance-building initiatives involving parties that had previously been associated with Coalition 2026, arguing that these developments reflected divisions within the opposition camp.
However, Dr. Ceesay’s characterization of Coalition 2026 as effectively a one-party arrangement is a political jab. The coalition and the parties involved have yet to publicly respond to his description or provide their own account of its current composition.
Leave a Reply