Brikama Area Council Chairman Yankuba Darboe has welcomed the selection of Lawyer Ousainou Darboe as the United Democratic Party’s (UDP) flagbearer for the 2026 presidential election.
Speaking after the announcement, Chairman Darboe described the flagbearer selection process as a tense but normal part of politics.
“Flagbearership selection anywhere is always tense. The UDP has been selecting candidates starting from the councillorship level. Sometimes it used to be so tense that people even exchanged blows,” he said. “If you cannot stand the heat in politics, you cannot enter it. That’s what makes politics interesting.”
He said the party must now focus on unity and rallying behind its chosen candidate.
“Since we have selected our flagbearer, what is incumbent on us is to rally behind him. Our objective is to salvage this country from corrupt leaders. We have made our choice and selected Lawyer Ousainou Darboe. What remains now is to sell our candidate to the Gambian people by convincing them to vote for him,” he said.
Asked about the UDP’s strategy to appeal to undecided voters, Chairman Darboe said Gambians can already judge the government’s record for themselves.
“The undecided Gambians need to make the choice now. They can see clearly the country hasn’t progressed. If you were buying a bag of rice before 2021 at D2,000, it now costs much more. If you vote for Barrow and the NPP, don’t expect any change,” he said.
Chairman Darboe argued that voting for Lawyer Ousainou Darboe would represent a break from the current system.
“If it’s change Gambians want, then let’s vote for change and not a continuation of a failed system. This system has not worked,” he said.
