Ba Samba Drammeh Drops Presidential Bid to Back UDP and Ousainu Darboe

Ba Samba Drammeh has abandoned his bid for the presidency and thrown his support behind the United Democratic Party and its leader, Ousainu Darboe, according to The Standard. His decision comes weeks before candidate nominations and adds a new turn to the opposition’s efforts to challenge the governing NPP. Drammeh, a presidential aspirant for the Gambia Action Party, said the move was based on political calculations rather than personal sentiment. He argued that an opposition divided among several candidates would struggle against an organised incumbent, and said he believed the country could not afford another fragmented contest. He pointed to The Gambia’s first-past-the-post voting system, saying that splitting the opposition vote could allow a candidate to win with a relatively small share. Drammeh also cited the cost of living, unemployment among young people and the value of the dalasi as concerns that, in his view, required a united political response. Reflecting on previous elections, he said opposition unity had helped bring change in 2016, while divisions in 2021 had contributed to defeat. He warned that repeating that pattern in 2026 could benefit the NPP, while a consolidated opposition, he argued, would have a stronger chance of winning. Drammeh said voters were focused on everyday pressures rather than party labels, giving the price of rice and the lack of jobs after university as examples. He rejected the idea that his decision amounted to betrayal, saying GAP’s stated priorities—including accountability, youth inclusion and anti-corruption—were compatible with the changes he wants to see. The report says Drammeh had been preparing nationwide consultations and was due to pay the D1 million nomination deposit. It also says he is expected to formally join the UDP campaign platform at Manjai Bureau this week. The supplied article ends before his final quoted remarks are complete.