Gap Flagbearer Endorses UDP, Says Divided Opposition Cannot Defeat Barrow
A presidential aspirant of the Gambia Action Party (GAP), Ba Samba DrammGAP FLAGBEARER ENDORSES UDP, SAYS DIVIDED OPPOSITION CANNOT DEFEAT BARROW
A presidential aspirant of the Gambia Action Party (GAP), Ba Samba Drammeh, has abandoned his presidential bid to endorse the United Democratic Party (UDP) and its leader Ousainu Darboe, in a dramatic realignment that reshapes the opposition field weeks before nomination.
Drammeh, whose party was registered in 2019 as a youth-driven alternative focused on anti-corruption and agricultural reform, said he stepped aside not out of weakness but out of political realism that The Gambia cannot afford a fragmented opposition against an entrenched NPP-led incumbency.
GAP, led by Musa Ousainou Yali Batchilly, has positioned itself as a centrist alternative but has failed to make electoral breakthroughs.
Drammeh, who had planned a country-wide consultations and was set to pay the D1 million nomination deposit today, represents the GAP faction that wanted to go solo. His endorsement of the UDP signals that opposition unity is succeeding from the bottom.
For UDP, the endorsement is strategic. Darboe, 78, faces criticism as a recycled candidate, but GAP’s move rebrands him as consensus builder attracting younger parties. Drammeh is expected to formally join UDP’s campaign platform at Manjai Bureau this week.
Speaking to The Standard yesterday, Drammeh said his decision was driven by electoral arithmetic, not sentiment.
“We cannot defeat an organised incumbency with a disorganised opposition,” he declared.
“Gambians want change but opposition disunity is killing that hope.”
Drammeh said the country’s voting system is First-Past-The-Post.
“The winner needs 37 percent if we split into ten. Second, the problems Gambians face — high cost of living, youth unemployment, and dalasi depreciation do not have UDP or GAP solutions. They have a Gambian solution. Also, history punishes us when we are divided.”
He added: “In 2016, we won because seven parties put Gambia first and put one man forward. In 2021, we lost because we put parties first. In 2026, if we repeat 2021, the NPP will win with 37 to 42 percent. If we unite, we will win with 56 to 62 percent. The numbers are not lying,” he said.
He said voters are no longer loyal to party logos.
“A woman in Brikama Market does not ask whether I am GAP or UDP. She asks why rice is D2,100. A youth in Bakau does not ask about my manifesto. He asks why there is no job after university. No small party can answer that alone against state resources. We need one strong alternative government.”
He dismissed claims of betrayal, saying GAP’s core values which are accountability, youth inclusion, and anti-corruption align with UDP reforms.
“I am not joining a person. I am joining a mission to prevent a minority presidency. UDP is today the largest opposition vehicle. If we all enter that vehicle, we will reach the State House. If we each drive our small car, we will run out of fuel.”
He called on the rest of the opposition to unite behind the UDP-led coalition before the IEC nomination closes in November.
“History will judge us and no Gambian should say we had the chance to unite and we chose ego.”eh, has abandoned his presidential bid to endorse the United Democratic Party (UDP) and its leader Ousainu Darboe, in a dramatic realignment that reshapes the opposition field weeks before nomination.
Drammeh, whose party was registered in 2019 as a youth-driven alternative focused on anti-corruption and agricultural reform, said he stepped aside not out of weakness but out of political realism that The Gambia cannot afford a fragmented opposition against an entrenched NPP-led incumbency.
GAP, led by Musa Ousainou Yali Batchilly, has positioned itself as a centrist alternative but has failed to make electoral breakthroughs.
Drammeh, who had planned a country-wide consultations and was set to pay the D1 million nomination deposit today, represents the GAP faction that wanted to go solo. His endorsement of the UDP signals that opposition unity is succeeding from the bottom.
For UDP, the endorsement is strategic. Darboe, 78, faces criticism as a recycled candidate, but GAP’s move rebrands him as consensus builder attracting younger parties. Drammeh is expected to formally join UDP’s campaign platform at Manjai Bureau this week.
Speaking to The Standard yesterday, Drammeh said his decision was driven by electoral arithmetic, not sentiment.
“We cannot defeat an organised incumbency with a disorganised opposition,” he declared.
“Gambians want change but opposition disunity is killing that hope.”
Drammeh said the country’s voting system is First-Past-The-Post.
“The winner needs 37 percent if we split into ten. Second, the problems Gambians face — high cost of living, youth unemployment, and dalasi depreciation do not have UDP or GAP solutions. They have a Gambian solution. Also, history punishes us when we are divided.”
He added: “In 2016, we won because seven parties put Gambia first and put one man forward. In 2021, we lost because we put parties first. In 2026, if we repeat 2021, the NPP will win with 37 to 42 percent. If we unite, we will win with 56 to 62 percent. The numbers are not lying,” he said.
He said voters are no longer loyal to party logos.
“A woman in Brikama Market does not ask whether I am GAP or UDP. She asks why rice is D2,100. A youth in Bakau does not ask about my manifesto. He asks why there is no job after university. No small party can answer that alone against state resources. We need one strong alternative government.”
He dismissed claims of betrayal, saying GAP’s core values which are accountability, youth inclusion, and anti-corruption align with UDP reforms.
“I am not joining a person. I am joining a mission to prevent a minority presidency. UDP is today the largest opposition vehicle. If we all enter that vehicle, we will reach the State House. If we each drive our small car, we will run out of fuel.”
He called on the rest of the opposition to unite behind the UDP-led coalition before the IEC nomination closes in November.
“History will judge us and no Gambian should say we had the chance to unite and we chose ego.”
Source: The Standard
