Lawyer Assan Martin has said opposition coalition discussions in The Gambia are currently focused on building a solid alliance structure rather than deciding who should lead a possible coalition ticket.
Speaking during an interview on Kerr Fatou’s The Brunch programme, Martin said coalition partners are prioritising unity frameworks and policy direction before addressing leadership questions.
“Now the stages we are in, we are trying to build the unity and coalition frameworks; then later we will build the coalition manifesto, and then address the leadership issues,” he said.
Martin stressed that opposition parties are determined to create a durable coalition capable of lasting beyond elections and political transitions.
He noted that the process requires patience and careful planning to avoid repeating past political mistakes. According to him, discussions involving opposition groups have so far been constructive, with many participants placing national interest above party loyalties.
“The talks are going smoothly. We are very hopeful that a coalition will come into play,” he stated. He added that almost all major opposition groups are engaged in the talks, describing the atmosphere as encouraging and centred on national unity. “Almost everybody is seeing the country before our individual parties or movements,” Martin said.
The lawyer further argued that the coalition effort is driven by concerns over governance and institutional challenges facing the country, which he said require collective action from political actors.
He warned that failure to unite could weaken the opposition ahead of the 2026 presidential election and ultimately benefit the incumbent government.
Martin also cautioned politicians against focusing solely on personal ambitions, insisting that leadership positions within the coalition should emerge from an agreed process rather than entitlement.
