The Gambian President Adama Barrow has announced that he will run for a third term in the upcoming presidential election, despite calls for him to respect term limits.

Mr Barrow’s decision to seek another term comes amid growing pressure for him to step down in adherence to a two-term limit. His remarks have sparked concerns among Gambians, many of whom fear he may be trying to tighten his grip on power, similar to Yahya Jammeh, who ruled the country for 22 years with an iron fist.

However, Barrow justified his decision to run again stating that his primary reason is to prevent his party from fading out of the political landscape if he steps down.

When asked if he would seek a third term in office, he responded without hesitation.

“I will give you a direct answer ‘yes.’ It’s not about President Barrow; it’s about my party. My party is very young, and I don’t want it to die at an infant stage. The party is still developing, and I don’t think we are organised enough yet to afford losing our leader at this stage,” he said.

He argued that stepping aside now would be unwise, as he wants his party to remain relevant in Gambian politics for the next hundred years.

“If I leave now, I will kill the party, and I don’t want that to happen. I started this party, and I want it to continue for the next hundred years and remain a key player in Gambian politics,” he added.

According to Barrow, he has nothing left to prove in Gambian politics, citing his historic victory over Yahya Jammeh in the 2016 elections.

“I defeated a dictator who ruled for 22 years when nobody thought it was possible, especially through the ballot box. God brought me, and I was able to defeat him,” he said.

By Adama Makasuba