Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – Senior private lawyer Lamin J. Darboe, the newly appointed leader and flagbearer of the National Unity Party (NUP), has underscored the centrality of the rule of law in nation-building and called on Gambians to make informed choices in the 2026 presidential election.
Speaking at the party’s maiden press conference under his leadership, Darboe warned that no country can thrive without adherence to the rule of law.
“Adherence to the rule of law is the foundation upon which nations survive or collapse. No matter what its resources, a nation that fails to embrace the rule of law has its foundations anchored in quicksand,” he told journalists.
Darboe argued that the absence of state-sanctioned abuses in developed democracies is a major factor driving Gambians toward Europe and America, despite racism and other challenges. He said citizens in those countries do not fear enforced disappearances, killings, unlawful detentions, or the loss of economic opportunities simply for expressing their views.
He stressed that the overriding objective of the 2026 elections must be to elect “a builder”—not someone who sees the State House merely as a place of comfort.
“Governance must be the key, and in its elements, we are talking accountability and transparency. Without open government, the foundation of our republic crumbles,” he said.
Darboe added that The Gambia must compete with established democracies to attract credible investors rather than what he described as “the criminal variety” who exploit state systems for personal gain.
He further called for the preservation of the nation’s assets and vigilance against corruption and economic crime, noting that government should serve the people, not provide “an avenue for the plunder of public resources.”
“When we go to the polls in 2026, I urge you to remind yourself that No. 1 Marina Parade represents a nation’s hope—that its principal tenant must be wise, competent, and capable of leading in the global arena,” he said.
Darboe urged voters to rise above partisan loyalties and put national interest first, emphasizing that The Gambia must remain their “greatest aspiration and project.”
He warned that no society can enjoy lasting security or economic progress without the rule of law.
“In the absence of security and the business certainty that comes with it, our dear Gambia will continue to be left behind. In that eventuality, it amounts to mere hallucination to contemplate survival, much less development,” he cautioned.
Darboe called on Gambians to join the NUP in what he described as the country’s emancipation from stagnation, saying he accepted the party’s leadership to engage the nation on a matter of “timeless significance.”
He concluded that a complete society requires clear rules applied equally to all and that lawlessness undermines national survival.
“The rule of law, though often invoked by both dictators and democrats, is frequently abused and distorted. Yet it remains the bedrock of meaningful governance,” he said.
