The United Democratic Party is preparing to pull out of the APEX coalition negotiations following its decision to join forces with the Gambia First Coalition and back Ousainu Darboe as the alliance’s presidential candidate.
Lamin Manneh, the UDP’s deputy administrative secretary for external affairs, confirmed the party’s decision in an interview with Kerr Fatou on Thursday, saying the UDP could not remain part of two separate coalition arrangements at the same time.
“We cannot be in two coalitions,” Manneh said.
According to him, the UDP’s National Executive Committee met on Sunday and agreed on the party’s political direction ahead of the 2026 presidential election.
That decision paved the way for the UDP to enter into an agreement with the Gambia First Coalition, with Darboe expected to lead the alliance into the presidential contest.
Manneh said the new commitment leaves the party with no practical basis for continuing its participation in the APEX negotiations.
“We have only one voice,” he said. “Once we commit that voice here, we cannot pledge it elsewhere.”
He also cited what he described as limited progress in the APEX talks as another factor behind the party’s decision to pursue a different coalition strategy.
UDP representatives participating in the APEX discussions have already been instructed to formally communicate the party’s withdrawal, Manneh said.
Despite leaving the negotiations, the UDP is not closing the door on cooperation with the parties and movements involved in APEX.
Manneh said the party would instead encourage them to join the emerging alliance between the UDP and Gambia First Coalition.
“What we will tell those we were with in APEX is, please come and join us so we can continue to move the country forward,” he said.
The development adds another layer to the continuing reshaping of opposition politics as parties and movements seek electoral partnerships ahead of the December 2026 presidential election.
