By Lamin Jatta
Modou Lamin Touray, a Gambian social commentator based in Scotland, has described the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) as a divisive political group and warned Gambians against voting for them in 2026.
In a write-up shared with The Observer24, Mr Touray wrote: “The United Democratic Party (UDP) has stood as a fixture of Gambian political life, regularly cited as the largest opposition faction and a champion for democracy. Yet a closer scrutiny of its internal dynamics and public conduct reveals troubling patterns that would make UDP leadership detrimental for The Gambia’s development, stability, and democratic progress.”
He said the UDP is in the throes of a persistent leadership dilemma, epitomised by the long tenure and increasingly controversial leadership of Ousainou Darboe.
“With questions about Darboe’s age, repeated electoral losses, and his ability to steer the party forward, the UDP has failed to confront the urgent need for succession planning. The party is now split into competing camps—the old guard loyal to Darboe and reformists pushing for younger, more dynamic leadership. This rift has led to open defiance, public calls for Darboe’s resignation, and even expulsions of dissenting members.”
Mr Touray added that repeated leadership contests have culminated in bad blood rather than renewal, with prominent figures refusing to challenge Darboe or openly stating they will leave if new leadership emerges.
“Instead of policy-driven debates, most internal feuds are personality-based, leading to a leadership structure that is unclear, brittle, and chronically distracted.”
He added that UDP’s undemocratic internal practices—seen in its reluctance to decentralise power and embrace new voices—mirror historical flaws in Gambian party culture.
“The leadership remains heavily personalised, with power concentrated around Darboe. Such models never allow meaningful democracy, making the UDP vulnerable to collapse once the leader departs or loses influence.”
He said voices calling for new leadership, particularly women and youth, are marginalised or attacked, worsening public perceptions of the party’s inclusiveness.
“The UDP’s inability to mediate disputes among its own senior members raises serious doubts about its capacity to govern a diverse nation. Despite opposition rhetoric, UDP’s record where it holds local power has come under severe criticism,” he stated.
Touray charge UDP-led municipal leaders with prioritising petty politics over developmental goals, alleging they obstruct rather than facilitate progress to avoid crediting the central government.
“Especially in the West Coast region, UDP leaders have been sowing chaos and using disruption as a political tool, rather than governing effectively or promoting stability.”
He said UDP’s relentless internal wrangling, coupled with outsised focus on personal rivalries, has led to erosion of trust within the party and among the electorate.
Recent defections and public spats have exposed the UDP’s inability to maintain discipline and project unity—essential qualities for any party aspiring to national leadership.
Disconnect from grassroots: The current leadership’s failure to engage ordinary citizens and adapt to evolving voter needs has left the party disconnected, diminishing its former appeal and undermining its claim to representational legitimacy.
“As some analysts have pointed out, the UDP’s politics is often more about personal advancement and patronage than principled stands or visionary policy.
UDP’s failings are not isolated missteps but symptoms of greater systemic issues endemic to Gambian party politics.”
He added parties built on personalities and not on strong, inclusive institutions are doomed to enterprise over country and will struggle to govern democratically if given executive power.
“Without internal transparency, genuine grassroots engagement, or clear plans for the future, there is every reason to believe a UDP-led government would repeat the very failures it critiques in its rivals.”
