Lamin J Darboe Slams UDP’s Flag Bearer Process as “Unfair and Undemocratic”

The United Democratic Party’s (UDP) recently launched flag bearer selection for the 2026 presidential race is already mired in controversy, as prominent Gambian lawyer Lamin J Darboe has accused the party of manipulating the process to sideline challengers and shield its leadership from competition. Darboe, who holds both Gambian and British citizenship, disclosed to The Standard that he had intended to vie for the party’s ticket. However, a clause requiring applicants to renounce dual nationality within just 14 days has effectively eliminated his chances. He dismissed the condition as both impractical and unnecessary, given that the presidential polls are more than a year away.

“It is impossible to renounce British citizenship in two weeks. The UDP’s deadline is designed to shut people like me out, not to promote fairness,” Darboe lamented. “Preferential Treatment” for Party LeaderDarboe went further, openly questioning whether the rules are being selectively applied to protect Secretary General and long-time Party Leader Ousainu Darboe. “Are we about to witness preferential treatment for the Party Leader, while ordinary members are trapped by arbitrary conditions?” he asked pointedly. He accused the leadership of sidelining loyal supporters who contribute financially to the party while shielding executives who do little to sustain it. “In 2020, I was abroad in the UK and sent D10,000 for the party congress—twice the contribution of the entire executive committee combined. Yet somehow, loyalty and commitment are measured in ways that exclude people like me,” Darboe fumed. History of Rigged ProcessesThe lawyer reminded Gambians that this is not the first time UDP has betrayed its own democratic rhetoric. He cited the 2021 selection process as a sham. “Four people applied, but only Ousainu Darboe was even given a hearing. The rest of us were ignored. That was not a contest—it was an anointment, in flagrant violation of both UDP rules and democratic principles,” he said. Darboe suggested that the party’s leadership is more interested in preserving its grip on power than fostering genuine competition. “To hear senior figures recently cite my name as an example of UDP democracy is an insult, because what I experienced was the exact opposite,” he added. A Party at a CrossroadsWith the 2026 elections looming, Darboe’s withdrawal highlights a growing rift within the UDP. Once considered the country’s strongest opposition force, the party now faces mounting questions about its credibility, internal democracy, and its willingness to embrace change. For Lamin J Darboe, however, the verdict is clear: “The system is rigged, and I will not lend legitimacy to a process that mocks both fairness and transparency.”