Africa-Press – Gambia. Retired Lieutenant Colonel Samsudeen Sarr, former Commander of The Gambia National Army, has warned that the newly formed APEX coalition could repeat the political failures that followed the opposition’s 2016 election victory.
In a statement this week, Lt. Col. Sarr questioned the credibility of the coalition, saying it overlooks the trust deficit left by unfulfilled promises made to Gambians nearly a decade ago. He recalled that the 2016 coalition succeeded on assurances of a three-year transitional presidency, constitutional reforms, and institutional rebuilding—commitments he said were not honoured.
“The aftermath of that election has left voters wary of coalition politics, particularly arrangements that lack binding guarantees and accountability mechanisms,” Sarr said. He noted that APEX has not explained how it intends to prevent a repeat of what many Gambians view as political betrayal.
The retired army commander also raised concerns over the coalition’s leadership composition and visibility. He pointed out that some public figures are former government officials, while others are not widely known, giving the impression that APEX is driven by political elites rather than grassroots participation.
Sarr identified the United Democratic Party (UDP) as a key challenge to the coalition’s viability. “No opposition alliance can realistically succeed without the UDP,” he said, while noting that the party is unlikely to endorse a candidate outside its established leadership. He argued that ignoring this political reality weakens APEX’s strategic foundation.
He added that several opposition parties, including PDOIS and GDC, have reportedly declined to join the initiative, while others remain electorally marginal or untested, leaving the coalition without a solid nationwide base. Drawing lessons from Senegal’s recent elections, Sarr said political change requires not only unity among elites but also clear messaging that resonates with voters, particularly young people.
He concluded that unless APEX demonstrates how it will rebuild trust and differentiate itself from past coalition efforts, Gambians are unlikely to rally behind another opposition alliance ahead of the 2026 presidential election.
PPP Flagbearer Vows to Restore Party’s Golden Era
By Kemo Kanyi
Saikou Sawo, the newly appointed flagbearer of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), has pledged to work with Gambians to restore the party’s “golden era” established under its founding leaders.
Mr. Sawo and members of his Golden Era Party (GEP) recently joined the PPP, one of the country’s oldest political parties. He was officially endorsed as PPP’s flagbearer during a ceremony at the residence of Ousman Madikay Faal, the party’s secretary-general and leader.
In response to questions from The Voice newspaper on how his leadership intends to regain voters’ confidence, Mr. Sawo said the revival of the party would require collective effort.
“Golden Era Party is now part of PPP, and we are going to work together to revive the party. We aim to usher in the golden era. It will take a collective effort, but we believe in the party. This is a party of integrity,” he said.
He further highlighted the legacy of Sir Dawda Jawara, noting the former leader’s responsiveness to the people. “As our party slogan says, ‘the voice of the people is the voice of God.’ We are committed to working with Gambians to revive the party,” Mr. Sawo added.
He emphasized that the partnership between PPP and Gambians is critical for the country, suggesting that meaningful change is achievable under this renewed alliance.
Recalling the 1992 national elections, the PPP flagbearer noted that Sir Dawda Jawara won by a landslide amid a period of notable economic growth, infrastructure development, political stability, and peace. However, he said the military takeover disrupted the democratic mandate of Gambian voters.
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