Following weeks of speculation about his political future and the internal succession discussion within the United Democratic Party (UDP), party leader and secretary general Ousainou Darboe said on Wednesday that he would run for his party’s nomination in the 2026 presidential election.
After a period of public dispute about who should lead the UDP into the next election, Mr. Darboe appealed for party unity in a message intended to galvanise his followers. He asked members to set aside their recent disagreements and reaffirm their commitment to the party’s common objectives. Mr Darboe stated, “As we get ready for the upcoming elections, let’s maintain and increase the momentum we are continuously building.” “The Gambia is at a turning point, and the 2026 presidential elections will be a pivotal event.”
When the UDP formally chooses its flag bearer, the leader of the party reaffirmed his intention to run for office. Mr. Darboe promised to run a strong, policy-driven campaign centred on what he called the shortcomings of the current National People’s Party (NPP) if he were to win the nomination.
“The UDP will choose a flag bearer in accordance with its established procedures when that moment comes. I plan to submit my application to be the party’s flagbearer. I will run a strong, fact-based, and issue-focused campaign to persuade The Gambians that the UDP and its possible allies are the only option to replace the dishonest and insensitive NPP government that has let down our hard-working and worthy compatriots, should the UDP have the honour of choosing me, Darboe stated.
Former vice president Mr. Darboe, who has led the UDP since its founding in 1996, stressed the value of party unity and cautioned that internal strife would only hurt their chances.
According to him, the UDP is a “big tent” party that welcomes variety and gives everyone the opportunity to develop.
It is diversified and expanding. We are a single family in a large tent, with space for all of our members and supporters as well as the chance for each individual to reach their greatest potential. Our political party’s life is fuelled by the energy and aspirations that each member and supporter contributes to the group, and our strength lies in our variety,” he stated.
Mr. Darboe outlined the UDP’s strengths, which he feels include a dedicated grassroots base, seasoned professionals, effective elected officials, and a well-defined policy agenda that appeals to the Gambian populace. However, he issued a warning that the party must stay unified in order for these advantages to result in electoral triumph.
“We are fortunate to have the most driven supporters, a strong pool of highly skilled and experienced professionals, an outstanding group of capable elected officials who are providing outstanding service in all of the duties that the people of Gambia have entrusted to them, and we are conveying a clear agenda to the Gambian people that is striking a chord with them. We are working to effect the change that our nation sorely needs. However, none of these can succeed more widely unless our unity remains intact,” he stated.
Darboe warned against letting internal conflicts split the party, acknowledging that they are normal in every political organisation.
“It is healthy and normal to foster ambition among party members, to have a preference for one party member over another for any reason, and to hold any office within the party. Disagreement is normal in every political party.” All of things should be understood and accepted as inherent to democratic politics. Not because they provide superior options, our adversaries—and they are numerous and take many different forms—would prefer to see our diversity and unity shattered. They want to look for validation in our division and the failure it implies. Denying those opponents the chance to defend their predetermined opinions is the most certain approach to ensure their failure. And it is accomplished with ease and effectiveness when our ranks are united,” Darboe stated.
Even as the UDP looks to establish itself as the main opposition force in The Gambia, Darboe’s statement sets the stage for a potentially acrimonious debate within the party as it gets ready for the upcoming election campaign.
