At the heart of this political storm is the veteran politician and founding father of the party, Lawyer Ousainou Darboe. A man revered by many as the “Mandela” of Gambian politics, Darboe’s legacy is undeniable. He has been the face of the UDP through thick and thin, enduring persecution, imprisonment, and electoral defeats. But the hard truth remains — he has contested five presidential elections and lost all. Now, once again, Darboe has submitted his application to lead the party into the 2026 elections, setting off a chain reaction that reveals the growing dysfunction within the UDP.
Darboe’s re-emergence as a contender has triggered resignations and forced withdrawals among other aspirants, not because they believe he is the best candidate to lead the country, but out of reverence for his legacy — a glaring case of political godfatherism that flies in the face of meritocratic leadership. Among those who stepped aside is Brikama Area Council Chairman Yankuba Darboe, a rising political figure whose withdrawal is reportedly rooted in his loyalty to the "old man," rather than in political strategy or electoral calculation.
But the real twist came with the late and controversial entry of Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda, who had previously vowed not to contest against Ousainou Darboe. His eleventh-hour U-turn has thrown the party into chaos, opening deep wounds within the UDP that may never heal. Bensouda, backed by what observers now term the “mafia wing” of the party — comprising wealthy contractors, political opportunists, and alleged influence-buyers — is aggressively campaigning behind the scenes. Reports of vote-buying, co-opting UDP parliamentarians, and offering shady contracts in exchange for loyalty are rampant.
This development has sharply divided the UDP into warring camps. The Yankuba Darboe camp, still loyal to the elder statesman, has launched verbal assaults on Talib’s perceived betrayal. Meanwhile, Talib’s supporters have not held back, flooding social media and political discourse with insults, innuendo, and character assassinations. What was once a united political family is now a house of verbal war, with online warriors trading blows daily and offline surrogates spreading discord at every level of the party.
Observers warn that the UDP is edging dangerously close to self-destruction. If Talib is selected, Yankuba Darboe has publicly declared he will leave the party. There are whispers of defections and parallel party formations, should either side lose the flagbearer contest. Even more worrying is the complete erosion of ideological unity — now replaced by personal interests, financial muscle, and blind loyalty.
The UDP leadership must now confront a bitter truth: they have failed to build a sustainable political institution beyond the personality of Ousainou Darboe. A political party that cannot transition beyond its founder without descending into chaos is not a democratic institution but a cult of personality.
For the ordinary UDP supporter and for Gambian democracy at large, the current spectacle is deeply disheartening. A credible opposition is vital for any functioning democracy. But right now, the UDP is offering Gambians a circus of egos, not a serious alternative to governance.
In the end, whether Darboe, Talib, or a third figure wins the flagbearer race, the real loss is institutional cohesion. The damage has been done, and whichever way this contest ends, breakaways are now inevitable. The UDP has entered its most dangerous phase — and unless sanity prevails, 2026 may not just mark the next election — it may mark the end of the United Democratic Party as we know it.
Let the UDP be reminded: leadership must be earned, not inherited; and loyalty to country must come before loyalty to any man.
