The Mayor of the Kanifing Municipal Council, Talib Ahmed Bensouda, has formally submitted his application to contest for the flagbearership of the United Democratic Party (UDP) ahead of the 2026 presidential elections.

Bensouda, who also serves as the party’s National Organizing Secretary, is the first confirmed candidate for the UDP ticket.

At 38, he represents a younger generation of leadership, a development that could influence internal party dynamics.

Lawyer Ousainou Darboe, UDP leader and Secretary General since 1996, has previously indicated his intention to seek the flagbearer position again.

If he formally submits his application, it would mark his sixth attempt to lead the party into a presidential election. It is not yet clear whether he has done so.

Observers say the contest could become one of the most defining in the UDP’s history, presenting members with a choice between continuity under a veteran leader or renewal under a younger figure.

The outcome is expected to shape how the UDP positions itself against the incumbent National People’s Party (NPP) in 2026.

By Adama Makasuba