KEY POINTS
- The electoral commission has approved five candidates for the Dec. 5 presidential election.
- President Adama Barrow is seeking a third term, while opposition leader Ousainou Darboe is making another presidential bid.
- Five other aspirants remained under review as the nomination process continued.
The Gambia’s Independent Electoral Commission has confirmed five candidates for the country’s Dec. 5, 2026, presidential election, including incumbent President Adama Barrow, who is seeking a third term.
The Gambia election commission announced the approved candidates on Thursday, Nov. 12, following the examination of nomination documents submitted by presidential aspirants. The confirmed candidates are Barrow of the National People’s Party, Ousainou Darboe of the United Democratic Party, Talib Ahmed Bensouda of the UNITE movement, independent candidate Isatou Touray and Modou Lamin Sima of the Alliance of Progressive Citizens.
The announcement marks an important stage in preparations for the election, which will be the country’s third presidential poll since the political transition of 2016. The commission said the nomination papers submitted by the five candidates had met the required conditions. However, the process was not yet complete, as other aspirants were still undergoing verification.
Barrow and Darboe lead the established political contest
Barrow first came to power in 2016 after defeating former President Yahya Jammeh, whose 22-year rule ended following the election. He is now seeking another term despite earlier indications that he would not pursue a third presidential mandate. However, the country’s 1997 Constitution does not impose presidential term limits.
Attempts to introduce term limits through constitutional reforms have failed twice after lawmakers rejected proposed new constitutions.
Darboe, the leader of the United Democratic Party and a former vice president, is also seeking the presidency again. He has contested previous elections and finished second in each of his earlier attempts.
Bensouda, a former mayor of Kanifing Municipality, is among the younger politicians attracting attention ahead of the vote. His candidacy had faced uncertainty after a government report accused him of financial impropriety during his time as mayor. His nomination has now been accepted by the commission.
Touray’s inclusion also marks a milestone, as she is the country’s first female presidential candidate. Sima completes the list of five approved aspirants.
More nominations remain under review
The commission’s announcement was a partial confirmation rather than the final conclusion of the nomination process.
According to The Point, several other aspirants were still required to provide additional signatures or undergo further verification. The commission had begun receiving nomination documents on Nov. 3, with the process scheduled to close on Nov. 14.
Campaign activities are expected to begin on Nov. 16 and continue for two weeks before election day. The December vote will test the political standing of Barrow’s administration and the ability of opposition candidates to build a competitive challenge. It will also take place against a backdrop of public debate about constitutional reform, political accountability and the country’s economic challenges. The final list of candidates will become clearer after the commission completes its review of the remaining submissions.
