Ebrima Nyang, Administrative Secretary One of the Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC), has criticised officials of the Unite Movement for Change over what he described as repeated announcements of alleged defections from the GDC to their movement.

Mr Nyang said it was unfortunate that UMC officials were celebrating defections from another opposition party, arguing that such actions undermine efforts to build unity among opposition groups ahead of the 2026 Gambian presidential election.

According to him, the GDC does not consider the UMC as its main political opponent, insisting that the party’s focus remains on the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) led by Adama Barrow.

“We only see President Barrow as our opponent and we are very proud to announce any defectors from his party to the GDC,” Nyang said.

He further argued that some of the individuals recently announced by UMC officials as defectors from the GDC had already left the party long ago.

“The ones they announced have left the GDC way back and I am surprised that an individual can leave a party and later come again to announce his departure,” Nyang said.

Nyang also claimed that members of the UMC had joined the GDC following a recent rally in Nema Jola Kunda, but said the GDC deliberately chose not to publicise those defections.

“We could have done the same by announcing the ones that left the UMC for the GDC in Nema Jola Kunda, but we played it down because it does not help the unity we are calling for among opposition parties,” he said.

He maintained that the focus of opposition parties should be on challenging the ruling NPP rather than competing among themselves for supporters.

“Opposition members moving to other opposition parties is not a sign of strength but a lack of progress for the opposition,” Nyang added.

Nyang further revealed that during recent GDC rallies in Buffer Zone, Manjai Kunda, and Lower Fulladu, several opposition supporters crossed over to the GDC.

However, he said the party leadership decided not to announce the defections publicly.

“This is what we call political maturity,” he said, urging opposition parties to adopt more strategic approaches and maintain healthy political relationships ahead of the next presidential election.

“As oppositions, it is important to build a healthy relationship for future engagements and focus on the bigger objective,” Nyang said.

By Adama Makasuba