The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has announced its decision in principle to endorse United Democratic Party (UDP) leader Ousainou Darboe for the 2026 presidential election, in a significant political development that could reshape The Gambia’s opposition landscape ahead of the polls.
The announcement was made during a joint gathering in Pipeline, where senior executives from both parties disclosed that a formal coalition agreement will be signed next week in the presence of their respective national leaderships.
The endorsement represents the first major political alliance to publicly rally behind the veteran opposition leader as political parties begin forging partnerships aimed at strengthening their chances in the 2026 presidential race.
Speaking at the event, PPP flagbearer Saikou Saho said the decision followed extensive consultations within the party, driven by concerns over opposition fragmentation and the need for a united front.
“We know the situation of the country today and the division, even among the opposition. The question is how can we unite and make sure the opposition is one,” Saho said.
He revealed that between 95 and 96 percent of the PPP Central Executive Committee voted in favour of supporting Darboe, with only two members abstaining.
“The contract is finalised in principle. It is now only a matter of putting signatures on it,” he added.
Saho said the PPP would continue engaging other political parties, civic movements and stakeholders in an effort to broaden the coalition, stressing that national interest must take precedence over partisan considerations.
“The Gambia is bigger than all of us,” he said.
PPP executive Nenneh Cheyassin Secka echoed the call for unity, arguing that smaller political parties should rally behind the country’s largest opposition movement if they are serious about achieving political change in 2026.
“If you love The Gambia and truly want change, you have to put personal ambitions aside,” Secka said.
Accepting the endorsement, UDP leader Ousainou Darboe described the PPP’s decision as an act of selflessness and said the emerging alliance was motivated by the desire to address the country’s challenges rather than individual political ambition.
“Our relationship is informed by concern for the people of this country. This is not about making someone president. It is about rescuing this country,” Darboe said.
He also appealed to other opposition parties, civil society organisations and civic groups to join what he described as a growing movement for democratic change.
According to Darboe, only a united opposition can deliver the political transition many Gambians are seeking in the 2026 elections.
The planned signing of the coalition agreement next week is expected to formalise the partnership between the PPP and UDP and could serve as a catalyst for broader opposition realignment as preparations for the presidential election gather momentum.
