By Haddy Touray
United Democratic Party (UDP) leader Ousainu Darboe has urged members of his party and its coalition partners to avoid distractions and focus their efforts on winning the Dec. 5, 2026 presidential election.
Speaking at the UDP’s 30th anniversary awards ceremony in Manjai, Darboe said the opposition should concentrate on presenting its agenda to Gambians rather than engaging in what he described as frivolous and unproductive debates.
He said the UDP and its allies remained committed to building a country that Gambians could be proud of, describing the objective as a responsibility shaped by the party’s three decades of political activism.
Darboe said the opposition should direct its energy towards persuading voters and building public support for its programme ahead of the election.
“We want to make sure that when we have another celebration, it is a celebration for the victory of the Gambian people,” he said, adding that such a victory would mean Gambians electing the government they believe they deserve.
He said the Dec. 5 election should be viewed not merely as an aspiration but as a concrete political objective requiring sustained efforts from the party and its partners.
Darboe also paid tribute to party members honoured during the anniversary celebrations, including those who had died, saying their contributions had helped shape the UDP over its 30-year history.
“As we now close these celebrations, a victory testimony has been given to several of our compatriots who have contributed to the building of the United Democratic Party,” he said.
He noted that some of those honoured were alive while others had died, adding that those who had passed on had left the current generation with an assignment and responsibility to continue their work.