Islamic Scholars Coalition Backs UDP for 2026 Polls

By: Fatou Krubally

A coalition of Gambian Islamic scholars under the banner Ansar UDP has declared its support for the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) ahead of the country’s 2026 presidential elections.

The endorsement was announced on Sunday at the Semega Janneh Olympic Hall, where Arabic scholars, supporters, and political stakeholders gathered for the event.

Formed in 2020, the group brings together scholars from modern Islamic learning institutions and traditional majalis across Banjul, Kanifing Municipality, and the West Coast Region. It has since expanded to include members from all parts of the country. According to the coalition, its objective is to provide moral and religious guidance on national affairs amid what it describes as growing governance challenges.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Momodou Lamin Jabbie said religious leaders have a duty to guide the public on major social and political issues. “Our society is overwhelmingly religious. Naturally, the people competent to give a religious perspective to such issues are the Muslim and Christian scholars,” he said.

Jabbie cited what the coalition described as the UDP’s resilience during years of political tension, noting that some of its supporters had faced intimidation, arrest, and other forms of pressure. He said the party’s endurance demonstrated its commitment to national progress. “Competence is measured not by words but by performance,” he added.

He also pointed to the party’s long-standing opposition to dictatorship, corruption, and mismanagement, referencing the performance of UDP officials who served in the early Barrow administration before the political split. “The head of state himself commended their competence at the time,” he said.

Commenting on recent national concerns, Jabbie referred to findings in Auditor General reports that highlighted significant financial losses in state accounts, saying the revelations had “pierced the conscience of the nation.” He called for strong measures to restore accountability, adding that combating corruption was a “moral obligation owed to future generations.”

The coalition appealed to Arabic scholars across the country to rally behind the UDP in what it described as an effort to restore good governance and the rule of law.

“Let us commit ourselves to this responsibility and work together to lift The Gambia toward progress, dignity, and national renewal,” Jabbie concluded.

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   By: Fatou Krubally A coalition of Gambian Islamic scholars under the banner Ansar UDP has declared its support for…
The post Islamic Scholars Coalition Backs UDP for 2026 Polls appeared first on .