The opposition coalition seeking to unseat President Adama Barrow has set 11 July as the deadline for selecting its presidential candidate for the December 2026 election.

The announcement was made by Professor Yerro Mballow, chairman of the Coalition Taskforce Mediation Committee (CTMC), who said nominations for the coalition flag-bearer position are now officially open.

The coalition, which brings together several opposition parties and political movements, is racing to agree on a single candidate to challenge Barrow at the polls on 5 December.

Speaking about the selection process, Mballow said aspiring candidates would have to satisfy roughly 30 eligibility requirements drawn from the Constitution and the country’s electoral laws.

He revealed that the eventual candidate must secure at least 75 percent support from coalition members before being selected through a weighted electoral college system.

“Party strength is also important for this weighted electoral college system. It will be measured by the last presidential election,” Mballow said.

Under the arrangement, parties will be assigned voting weight based on their performance in previous elections, while newly formed parties will be assessed through a separate formula.

Mballow said coalition members have shown a willingness to compromise in pursuit of a common objective and insisted that the mediation process has been conducted fairly and transparently.

He expressed confidence that the coalition would emerge with a consensus candidate and mount a serious challenge against Barrow’s bid for another term.

By Adama Makasuba