Mr. Sallah has said the Team Gambia Grand Coalition intends to avoid the mistakes of the 2016 opposition coalition by making its agreements and political commitments public before selecting a presidential flagbearer.
He recalled that the 2016 coalition chose its candidate without adequately explaining the terms of its agreement to the electorate, leaving many Gambians uncertain about what had been agreed even after the coalition won the election.
“This time, nobody will be selected until we go to the people and tell them exactly what we are going to do. That is the difference,” he said.
Mr. Sallah said the coalition also intends to pursue constitutional reforms, including transitional provisions that would give legal effect to its proposed commitment to a single presidential term.
He stressed that public consultation and accountability would form the foundation of the coalition’s political approach, arguing that voters must understand the commitments made in their name if they are to hold elected leaders responsible for delivering on them.
According to him, the coalition wants to give Gambians a greater say in determining the country’s political direction and ensure that those entrusted with public office cannot make promises during elections only to abandon them once in power.
He said that citizens should be sufficiently informed and empowered to exercise their sovereignty and not leave major political decisions entirely in the hands of party leaders.
