Assan Martin, spokesperson for Coalition 2026, has clarified that the United Democratic Party has not permanently withdrawn from negotiations aimed at forming a united opposition coalition ahead of the December 2026 presidential election.
Mr. Martin said the UDP had only stepped back from the talks to consult its party leadership over a proposal for the coalition to be led by an independent candidate.
His comments followed reports suggesting that the UDP had abandoned the negotiations, which seek to bring opposition parties and political groups together behind a single presidential candidate.
Speaking in an interview with Kerr Fatou, Mr. Martin said the majority of groups participating in the discussions had agreed that the coalition should not contest the election under the name, ticket or colours of any individual political party.
Instead, the proposed arrangement would require the selected coalition candidate to suspend any party candidacy, affiliation and membership for the duration of the alliance.
The proposal, however, conflicts with the UDP’s preference for a party-led coalition.
“The information they left with us at the talks was that they had to go and consult with their party,” Mr. Martin said. “It is not like they said they were leaving and would not return.”
According to Mr. Martin, the candidate-led proposal was approved by a majority of the participating groups and formally communicated to all parties involved in the negotiations.
Coalition 2026 is now awaiting an official response from the UDP negotiating team. Mr. Martin said coalition representatives planned to contact the party in the coming days to establish whether it would return to the talks.
He expressed hope that the UDP would reconsider its position and rejoin the negotiations so that the coalition-building process could continue.
The discussions form part of a wider opposition effort to prevent a divided vote and select a single candidate capable of challenging President Adama Barrow in the 2026 presidential election.
