The leader of United Democratic Party (UDP), Ousainou Darboe has defended his party’s decision to vote against The Gambia’s proposed 2024 draft constitution, calling the move “principled and necessary”, while accusing President Adama Barrow of undermining the reform process.

Speaking at a press conference, he said the UDP “does not feel apologetic” about its stance after the bill failed to pass its second reading in the National Assembly.

He alleged the draft was “designed to fail” due to what he described as a lack of transparency and inclusive consultation in its development.

“If anything else had happened, we would feel that our National Assembly members had indeed betrayed the Gambian people,” he told reporters.

Mr Darboe, who previously served as foreign minister and vice president under President Barrow before their political fallout, claimed that the executive deliberately bypassed broad public engagement in favour of a unilateral approach.

 “The design failure is the draft constitution itself,  a failure designed by President Adama Barrow,” he said.

 He added: “They knew bringing another document into the National Assembly without proper consultation would fail.”

He argued that the 2020 draft constitution, shelved after it failed to secure the required votes in parliament, should have been reintroduced instead.

He said his party remains committed to constitutional reform, but only if it reflects popular consensus.

 “The UDP resists any imposition on the people of The Gambia,” he declared. “We believe the constitution must emerge from the free will of the Gambian people ,  not be imposed by the executive.”

He emphasised the UDP’s long-standing advocacy for democratic reforms, dating back to the party’s founding in 1996, and reiterated calls for a people-driven process.

 “We cannot allow President Adama Barrow and his APRC allies to impose on the Gambian people a constitution that we do not deserve,” he said.

By Adama Makasuba