The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of The Gambia has announced that the country’s next presidential election will be held on December 5, 2026, even as President Adama Barrow’s plan to seek a third term continues to stir political tension and public criticism.
IEC Chairman Joseph Colley, who disclosed the schedule at a press briefing on Thursday, said the parliamentary elections would follow on April 10, 2027.
“The Commission remains committed to transparency, inclusion, and adherence to electoral laws,” Colley said.
“We urge all political groups and aspirants to comply with the registration requirements and the electoral code.”
He explained that the December 5 date aligns with the country’s standard electoral calendar under the existing 1997 Constitution.
President Barrow, first elected in 2016 after defeating long-time ruler Yahya Jammeh, shocked many Gambians earlier this year when he declared his intention to seek another term under the banner of his National People’s Party (NPP).
The decision has drawn widespread condemnation from the opposition and civil society, who accuse Barrow of backtracking on earlier promises to uphold presidential term limits and support a new constitution.
“Barrow’s third-term ambition betrays the spirit of democratic transition that brought him to power,” said one opposition leader.
Although the current constitution does not bar him from running, critics say Barrow is exploiting the failure to adopt a new constitutional framework that would have restricted presidents to two terms.
After taking power in 2016, Barrow’s administration promised a new constitution that would entrench term limits and consolidate democratic governance following more than two decades of autocratic rule under Jammeh.
A draft constitution introduced in 2020, which included a retroactive two-term limit clause, was, however, rejected by pro-Barrow lawmakers, a move that would have barred the president from contesting again.
Four years later, the government produced a revised draft that removed the retroactive clause, but that version was also voted down in July 2025, leaving the 1997 constitution intact.
The Gambia’s largest opposition party, the United Democratic Party (UDP), last month unveiled veteran politician Ousainou Darboe as its presidential candidate for the 2026 election.
Despite the criticism surrounding Barrow’s third-term bid, analysts say the president remains the frontrunner, as the opposition is yet to form a unified coalition capable of challenging the ruling NPP effectively.
“At this stage, Barrow remains the favourite to win,” a local political commentator noted, “largely because the opposition is fragmented and lacks a consolidated strategy.”
The Gambia’s 1997 constitution, still in force today, was the same framework that enabled former ruler Yahya Jammeh to consolidate power following his 1994 coup.
Jammeh’s two decades in power were marked by systemic human rights abuses, media repression, and the diversion of state funds for personal enrichment, according to rights groups and government investigators.
He fled to Equatorial Guinea in 2017, after losing the election to Barrow and initially refusing to concede defeat.
The IEC reiterated its determination to ensure a free, fair, and credible electoral process, pledging to maintain public trust as the nation heads into another politically charged election season.
“The Commission assures all Gambians and stakeholders of its independence and professionalism. Our focus is on guaranteeing a process that reflects the will of the people,” Colley stated.
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