Gambiaj.com – (Banjul, the Gambia)- Talib Ahmed Bensouda, Mayor of the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC), has formally withdrawn from the race to become the United Democratic Party’s (UDP) presidential flagbearer. He also resigned from his position as National Organising Secretary of the party.
In a video statement published on his official Facebook page, Bensouda said he was honoring a prior commitment: if UDP leader Ousainou Darboe declared his candidacy, he would not challenge him. “I made a pledge that if Lawyer Ousainou Darboe pursues his candidacy, I will not contest that decision,” Bensouda said.
Bensouda submitted his candidacy in early September 2025, making him the first to formally enter the flagbearer race. His bid was widely interpreted as a test of generational change inside the UDP, which has been led by Ousainou Darboe since its founding in 1996.
His move created immediate fault lines in the party. Some younger members and elected representatives welcomed his candidacy as a necessary renewal, while senior figures closed ranks around Darboe.
Darboe, 77, has been the UDP’s perennial candidate in every election since the late 1990s, except during periods of imprisonment or disqualification. His latest decision to run again effectively shut down internal competition.
By withdrawing, Bensouda avoids a direct confrontation but also confirms the party’s continued dependence on its long-time leader. His exit signals that the UDP is not yet prepared to undergo a leadership transition, despite internal pressure for change.
The decision may preserve short-term party unity, but it leaves unresolved questions about succession and strategy. With President Adama Barrow expected to seek another term in 2026, the UDP faces the challenge of rallying behind Darboe once again while maintaining relevance among younger voters.
For Bensouda, who secured a second mandate as KMC mayor in 2023, the withdrawal does not end his political career. But it may delay his ambition to step into national leadership until a post-Darboe future emerges.
