Presidential aspirant and Foni Bintang National Assembly Member Bakary K Badjie has insisted that his United Gambia Front (UGF) will contest the December 5, 2026 presidential election, amid questions over whether he would reunite with his former colleagues in the No-To Alliance. Badjie won his seat in the National Assembly as a No To Alliance candidate but has since broke ranks with the movement to set up a political body he called UGF and has vowed to run for president.
Asked by The Standard whether he would consider going back to No-To-Alliance after the selection of Almamy Gibba as its flag bearer, Badjie said:.
“As of now, we are yet to start any such discussions and those type of political matters required careful consideration.”
But he said he had previously called on the No-To-Alliance to join his movement.
He however maintained that UGF is prepared to contest the election regardless of whether an agreement is reached with other political groups.
“The UGF as a platform for national change and not a vehicle for my personal ambition. This struggle is not about Bakary. It is about The Gambia,” he said.
Opposition unity
The presidential aspirant also lamented the growing number of opposition coalitions, arguing that the country needed one broad alliance that will bring all opposition parties together under a united front.
But when asked whether he would surrender his flag-bearer position if all opposition parties agreed to unite behind one candidate, Badjie challenged other political leaders to consider the same sacrifice.
“Ask them whether they would sacrifice their flag bearer ship for me,” he said.
Badjie added that UGF would judge potential political partners by their integrity and commitment to the country, rather than their numbers or political track records.
He said the Movement remained committed to its cause and is prepared to face the December election.
