By Arret Jatta
Former president, Yahya Jammeh, has announced that the No to Alliance Movement (NAM) will select and announce its presidential candidate before the end of October.
Jammeh made the announcement during the formal launching of the movement on Saturday at a hotel in the Senegambia Strip.
Addressing his supporters from his exile base in Equatorial Guinea, Jammeh declared: “Before the end of October, I will come back to address all of you and tell you who is going to be the candidate for this year.”
He said if he were unable to return to make the announcement, the movement’s executives would be authorised to announce the candidate.
He expostulated that the selection of the candidate will be followed by the unveiling of a new political vision for the movement.
“When we announce who is going to work, the one we are going to select, I will come up with a new vision,” he said.
He called for a political culture that puts the country ahead of individual and group interests.
Jammeh said The Gambia could make accelerated progress if citizens are resolved to make sacrifices for the country.
He spoke about the need to protect the country’s resources, vowing: “What belongs to The Gambia, I will not let it go. I will bring it back at any cost!”
The former president said the country should work towards becoming peaceful, united and dignified.
He exhorted his supporters to remain focused on prioritising the national interest as the country goes to the polls in early December.
“We are Gambians. Gambia is Gambia. Gambia has no surname,” he reminded.
The launching speech was read by Almamy Gibba, National Assembly Member for Foñi Kansala, a chieftain of the movement. He said they intend to move beyond the teething problems that led to the movement’s formation and participate fully in the country’s political and electoral processes.
He said NAM is now moving from political resistance to organised participation in the 2026 presidential and other elections in accordance with the laws of The Gambia.
No To Alliance identified its political programme under the acronym PUSH, representing Progress, Unity, Self-Reliance and Humility.
He outlined that agriculture would be a major priority, with emphasis on food production, mechanisation, irrigation, storage facilities and markets for farmers.
It also identified healthcare, education, national security, infrastructure and the strengthening of strategic public enterprises as key areas of its proposed political programme.
The launching was attended by representatives of major political parties like the UDP, PDOIS, Unite, GDC, political figures, National Assembly Members, councillors, elders, women, and youths.