President Adama Barrow has taken a personal swipe at United Democratic Party (UDP) leader Ousainou Darboe while cautioning his own supporters against underestimating the opposition ahead of The Gambia’s December 5 presidential election.
Barrow made the remarks on Friday during a meeting in Ngayen Sanjal, Sabach Sanjal, in the North Bank Region, as part of his 2026 Meet the People Tour.
Referring to Darboe, one of his leading political challengers, the president questioned the opposition leader’s physical strength, suggesting that even a slight shake could affect his entire body.
Despite the personal jibe, Barrow warned supporters of his National People’s Party (NPP) against becoming overconfident as the election draws closer.
He urged them to remain alert, strengthen their mobilisation efforts and continue working until polling day, arguing that dismissing the opposition’s capabilities could prove costly.
“Underestimating our opponents can cause difficulties, but standing firm would guarantee victory regardless of how prepared the opposition is,” Barrow said.
The comments add to the increasingly sharp exchanges between the president and Darboe ahead of the December vote. During a rally in Farafenni last week, Barrow said he intended to politically “retire” the veteran UDP leader through the election.
The president also used the meeting in Ngayen Sanjal to promote his administration’s development record, saying the turnout at the gathering gave him confidence that residents recognised the work his government had carried out since taking office in 2017.
He maintained that his administration had made significant progress but described the achievements so far as only the beginning of what he hoped to accomplish.
Barrow said another term covering 2026 to 2031 would allow his government to pursue further development across the country.
Presenting himself as the central figure behind the administration’s development agenda, the president referred to others involved in the effort as his “apprentices”.
He also framed the December election as a choice between continuing what he described as progress under his leadership and returning to the past. He urged voters who wanted further development to support him and the NPP.
With the election approaching, Barrow’s remarks combined an attack on his main opposition rival with a warning to his own supporters that victory should not be taken for granted.
