The chairman of one of the Gambia’s most populated local government areas has called on his party’s supporters to intervene rapidly if they secure victory in the next general election, suggesting that they should not wait for formal processes.
Yankuba Darboe, the chairman of the UDP-led Brikama Area Council (BAC), urged them to move swiftly to ensure the United Democratic Party takes power without delay if its victory is assured.
Speaking at a political meeting in Farato recently, Darboe emphasized the importance of voter turnout in the next presidential election as he called on supporters to take action once it became evident that the UDP had won.
“No one should miss the 2026 elections,” he said. “If we vote, we should not wait for the IEC. Let’s go to the State House, install our father by force. If soldiers are there, we can snatch them. People’s power is what is going to change this country.”
While Darboe did not question the electoral process, his comments implied a deep-seated distrust in the timeline or outcome of official declarations by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), suggesting that citizens should act to prevent any delay or interference.
The remarks have been received with concern in some quarters, with some construing them as a challenge to institutional order. Supporters, however, may view the statement as a wake-up call in protecting what they may view as a legitimate mandate.
