Mr. Njie, to my knowledge, this question has never been asked by any media until now, which speaks to your strategic approach towards the upcoming 2026 elections.

I wanted to share my thoughts on this topic and wish I had spoken with you before you aired this important programme. Questions like these are crucial, not only for the voters but also for the party itself, as they prompt self-reflection and soul-searching for the largest opposition party.

My view on this important question is: Yes to UDP, but no to Darboe. This is something most UDP members dare not say, as Darboe and his staunch supporters have a stranglehold on the party. It’s either Darboe as the leader or no one else, which, sooner or later, will unfortunately lead to the party’s downfall.

Here are my reasons for opposing Darboe:

Corruption, Nepotism, and Tribalism on an Industrial Scale:

As a regular participant and listener of Freedom Radio, you may have heard Pa Njai Girigara claim he paid Darboe a million Dalasis for a ministerial position, stating he has evidence to back his claim.

I recall Hon. Lamin Waa Juwara leaving the UDP after a bitter dispute over Darboe using party funds for personal gain.

There was also the case of Talib Bensouda, who was chosen as a UDP candidate for KMC while living in Canada, despite the presence of other qualified candidates. Talib was selected due to the long-standing relationship between his mother and Darboe.

During his time as Foreign Minister and Vice President, Darboe allegedly reshaped our foreign service to align with UDP and Mandinka interests by recalling non-UDP and non-Mandinka individuals. For instance, Mr. Bojang, serving in Russia, was recalled because Darboe assumed he was Jola.

I can also recall the ongoing Diplomatic Passports scandal, involving allegations of passports being sold to foreign nationals and given to family members.

Additionally, Darboe criticized Barrow for recent land allocations, only to later reveal he had done the same, allocating land to family members while serving as Vice President.

To assess someone’s integrity, it’s essential to scrutinise their track record. While Barrow is extremely corrupt and incompetent, I wouldn’t choose Darboe over him, as many Gambians did in the last election. As President, Darboe would likely be vindictive and ruthless. After 22 years of dictatorship, we need peace and structural transformation in our country moving forward.

I would support the UDP wholeheartedly if someone other than Darboe led it. I heard your question during the programme about forming a coalition. A coalition is the only way to unseat Barrow, but this will be challenging when every party wants to lead, especially Darboe, knowing 2026 is likely his last chance to run for president.

The recent internal leadership conflict within the UDP is a major concern for those of us who want Barrow gone and despise corruption. A divided party cannot win elections. Without a strong coalition, which must start forming now, Barrow will likely have an easy path to victory in the 2026 election.

To reiterate, I would support the UDP, but only with a different leader. I believe many Gambians feel the same way. Keep up the good work with Freedom Radio. I believe your efforts could make you a ‘Kingmaker’ one day, insha’Allah.

From a Concerned Gambian resident in Europe