The UDP veteran is back for one last shot at the presidency—and a showdown with Adama Barrow could be on the cards.
Ousainu N.M. Darboe has filed his nomination papers with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), setting his sixth—and, he says, final—presidential bid in motion.
The United Democratic Party (UDP) leader is running under the UDP-led Gambia First Coalition. After five previous campaigns and decades in opposition, he is seeking the office that has long eluded him.
Darboe has been a leading opposition figure since founding the UDP in 1996. The party selected him as its candidate for the 2026 election through an internal process in September 2025.
Among the candidates he is expected to face is President Adama Barrow, who is seeking another term for the National People’s Party (NPP). With other parties, coalitions and independent candidates also expected to contest the December 5 election, voters could face a crowded ballot.
For now, Darboe has cleared only the first step. The IEC is accepting nominations from November 3 to 14 and must still check that his submission meets all the requirements. His place on the ballot is not yet confirmed.
