Bensouda submits his candidacy for Gambia's presidential election
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Gambiana
Talib Ahmed Bensouda has submitted his candidacy for Gambia's 5 December presidential election to the Independent Electoral Commission. The Coalition 2026 candidate says the government White Paper on a local inquiry commission provides no legal grounds for excluding him from the election.
Talib Ahmed Bensouda, head of the Coalition 2026 coalition and leader of the United Party, submitted his presidential nomination papers to the Independent Electoral Commission on Saturday 7 November for Gambia's 5 December election. He says the government's White Paper on the findings of the Local Government Commission of Inquiry provides no legal basis for excluding him from the election, according to Gambiana.
Bensouda said he intended to remain a candidate and that the Independent Electoral Commission should approve his participation in the election. He also invoked the principle of the rule of law to challenge any possible disqualification, according to Gambiana.
His submission comes amid questions over the implications of the government White Paper for his eligibility. Bensouda had previously accused President Adama Barrow of seeking to block his candidacy, and his coalition had announced that it would resist any presidential attempt to exclude him, according to Gambiana.
