By Kemo Kanyi
A united opposition coalition can pose a significant challenge to the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) in the December presidential election, a political scientist has said.
Biran Gai, a political science lecturer at the University of The Gambia, told The Voice in an interview on Wednesday that a broad-based opposition alliance would increase the chances of unseating the incumbent government.
According to him, the success of such a coalition would depend largely on the willingness of opposition parties to put aside their differences and pursue a common national objective.
He said discussions among Gambians have increasingly focused on whether opposition parties can overcome political rivalries and unite behind a shared agenda.
“From an opposition point of view, this is a step in the right direction,” Gai said, adding that unity among opposition parties remains critical to mounting an effective electoral challenge.
He noted that many observers believe the opposition must rally behind a single flag bearer and mobilise voters nationwide, as occurred during the 2016 presidential election.
Gai said a coalition involving major opposition parties, including the United Democratic Party (UDP), Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC), People’s Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS), APP-Sobeya and other political actors, could significantly alter the electoral landscape.
“If it does materialize, I think it will keep the NPP on its toes and the incumbent should be sweating politically because a united opposition front could really unseat the National People’s Party in power,” he said.
The political scientist argued that a strong alliance could attract broad voter support by addressing challenges facing the country, including electricity shortages, healthcare concerns and other socio-economic issues.
He said a strategic and united opposition campaign, similar to that of 2016, could increase the prospects of electoral success.
While acknowledging the challenges involved in building and sustaining a coalition of diverse political groups, Gai said such an alliance remains achievable and could present a serious test to the NPP’s efforts to retain power in the forthcoming election.