United Democratic Party (UDP) leader and Gambia First Coalition presidential candidate Ousainu Darboe says opposition forces still have an opportunity to unite ahead of the December 5 presidential election, arguing that disagreements over who should lead a joint ticket should not derail efforts to challenge President Adama Barrow.
In an interview with Eye Africa, the veteran opposition politician said a possible alliance involving Gambia First, Coalition 2026 and Team Gambia remained achievable if the leaders of the respective groups were prepared to engage in meaningful dialogue.
Darboe acknowledged that choosing a single presidential candidate could prove difficult, given the interests and ambitions of the different political groupings. However, he maintained that the issue could be resolved through negotiations.
“It’s not a problem that is unresolvable,” he said when asked who would lead a potential alliance.
He explained that the UDP had selected him as its presidential candidate before Gambia First was formed. The coalition subsequently aligned itself with the party, he said, because it viewed the UDP as a viable political platform.
Although he did not claim to speak for the other opposition groups, Darboe expressed confidence that Barrow would lose the December election.
The UDP leader also rejected suggestions that he should step aside to make way for a younger candidate, including Talib Ahmed Bensouda, leader of the UNITE movement.
Darboe argued that calls for him to withdraw did not represent the position of the UDP, whose members had endorsed his candidacy.
“Those are views which the United Democratic Party, which the person you mentioned was part of, that is not their view. Maybe the views of some few individuals, but that’s not the view of the United Democratic Party that selected me,” he said.
On concerns about his age, Darboe questioned why it should be a decisive factor in determining whether he remained eligible to seek the presidency. He argued that growing older did not automatically make someone unsuitable for public office, adding that experience could bring wisdom, maturity and a stronger sense of responsibility.
He also challenged criticism of his previous unsuccessful presidential campaigns, rejecting the argument that repeated electoral defeats should prevent him from contesting again.
Darboe said many Gambians believed the elections in which he had previously participated were neither free nor fair. On that basis, he argued, his political prospects should not be assessed solely by the results of those contests.
His comments come as opposition parties continue to grapple with questions of cooperation, leadership and candidate selection ahead of the December vote. Whether the different political blocs can reach a common position remains a key question in efforts to mount a united challenge against Barrow.
Darboe did not announce any formal agreement with Coalition 2026 or Team Gambia. However, his remarks suggest that he remains open to discussions aimed at bringing opposition forces together before voters go to the polls.
