19/08/2025
Debate Over UDP Flagbearership: Experience or Change?
The political debate within the United Democratic Party (UDP) has been reignited following Yankuba Darboe’s recent declaration on the party’s flagbearership. In a statement, Yankuba reaffirmed his earlier promise not to contest if Lawyer Ousainou Darboe entered the race. With Lawyer Darboe’s candidacy now confirmed, Yankuba stepped aside, noting:
“My words are my bond! I promised not to seek the UDP flagbearership if Lawyer Darboe is seeking it. Since Lawyer Darboe has confirmed his intention, I wish to notify you all that I will not be applying for it.”
While his decision was seen by some as an act of loyalty and principle, it also sparked a wave of mixed reactions, including strong disappointment from others who had hoped for generational change.
Among the most vocal critics was Fatou Camara Junior, who argued that Gambians are growing weary of the repeated reliance on familiar political figures.
Fatou questioned how long the country must continue “recycling the same old faces” while the nation’s future suffers. She expressed that many expected Lawyer Darboe, at this stage, to act as a statesman—making space for younger leaders instead of holding on to the flagbearership.
To her, Yankuba Darboe represented sincerity, courage, and a fresh vision for The Gambia. His withdrawal, therefore, felt like a betrayal of hope: “The fire I carried in my heart has been dimmed, not because The Gambia lacks leaders, but because those who should be paving the way are too busy holding on.”
In response, Kekendo offered a strong defense of Lawyer Darboe. He acknowledged Fatou’s right to be disappointed but emphasized that the overwhelming majority of UDP supporters—“99.9%,” as he put it—remain loyal to Darboe’s leadership. According to him, this loyalty is not misplaced but grounded in trust and confidence built over decades. He further argued that Fatou’s criticism seemed focused only on Darboe’s repeated electoral losses, while failing to cite any moral failings or incompetence.
For Kekendo, the party must prioritize proven capability and vision over emotional appeals or generational arguments.
Kekendo also cautioned against invoking Yankuba Darboe’s name to create divisions within the UDP. He stressed that Yankuba never authorized anyone to speak on his behalf, and reducing the party’s leadership prospects to just two individuals—Lawyer Darboe and Yankuba—was unfair. The UDP, he said, has “thousands of capable leaders,” each respected by different segments of the party.
While one side sees Lawyer Darboe’s persistence as an obstacle to renewal, the other regards it as a necessary anchor of stability.
As this debate unfolds, the question remains: should the UDP continue under the guidance of its long-standing leader, or is it time to hand the torch to a new generation ready to redefine the party’s future?
