President Barrow’s first five years in office should be seen as a “messy” transitional period rather than his first official term, according to Minister of Information Dr. Ismaila Ceesay.

“I believe it’s crucial for Gambians, as I’ve witnessed certain politicians attempting to mislead the populace by claiming that it’s uncommon for a president to seek a third term on the African continent. Subsequent to the 1997 Constitution, no one can impede the president’s ability to run for office. Furthermore, people need to understand—and this is something I believe is crucial for me to stress—that this is his first term in terms of us. The first term cannot be regarded as the President’s first term because it was a difficult transition. This is the President’s first term leading the NPP, and people should recognise that. No one—I repeat—can force the President to run for office; that is the President’s decision, Dr. Ceesay stated.

The Minister of Information acknowledged that President Barrow is in favour of term limits but stressed that no one has the power to restrict the president’s candidature in the absence of a legislative requirement for a second term limit in The Gambia.

Just so you know, the President’s present priority is providing services to the public. He’s been told to concentrate on that for the next five days,” he stated.

President Adama Barrow may run for president in 2026, which might heighten political tensions in the nation, according to a report by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), an African organisation devoted to improving human security on the continent. But Dr. Ceesay rejected this report, calling it essentially incorrect.

A fictitious research from the Institute for Security Studies said that if Barrow were to run for a third term in 2026, political tensions would increase. I’m not sure where that assumption came from. However, I believe it to be a seriously false assumption. Political unrest is not currently present in the Gambia. I’m not sure what they mean, therefore, if they say “deepened.” You are enhancing an already existing thing. There are no political tensions in the Gambia. Gambia has an open, stable political system. The president has the last say over the matter of a third term. I can tell you with absolute certainty that the President is a supporter of term limits. stated the minister of information.