By Fatou Krubally
United Democratic Party (UDP) Secretary General and flagbearer, Ousainou Darboe has assured members and partners of the Gambia First Coalition of his commitment to honouring political agreements, saying he would not enter into an arrangement he does not intend to respect.
Darboe made the remarks while appearing on the For The People By The People programme, where he was asked what guarantees he could offer to prevent disagreements that have affected political alliances in the past.
The veteran politician said his commitment should be judged by his character and personal integrity rather than solely by signatures on political agreements.
“What I want to say is that I do not agree to anything that I would not abide by. That is me,” Darboe said.
He said honesty and sincerity were personal principles for him and should not be viewed merely as obligations arising from a contractual agreement.
Darboe also dismissed suggestions that his ambition to become president could compel him to accept political arrangements simply to secure power.
“I’m not really desperate to be president of The Gambia. Otherwise, I could have accepted all these things,” he said.
He explained that his approach was to make his position clear from the outset rather than agree to terms that he might later be unwilling to honour.
Darboe’s comments come amid ongoing discussions on coalition politics ahead of the 2026 presidential election, with questions of trust and the ability of political partners to uphold agreements remaining central to the wider debate.
He maintained that political commitments should be grounded in personal integrity and a willingness to stand by agreed terms.