Gambian President Adama Barrow and opposition leader Ousainou Darboe have been approved to contest the December 5, 2026 presidential election, as the nomination process enters its final stages.
Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) chairman Joseph Colley announced a preliminary list of cleared candidates on Friday, while several other applications remained under review. Further decisions were expected later in the day.
The commission also rejected the nomination papers of candidates from the Gambia Labour Party and the National Democratic Party. The nomination process, which began on November 3, is due to close on November 14.
Barrow, in power since 2017, is seeking a third term, while Darboe, his former political ally turned rival, is making another bid for the presidency. Darboe has lost five previous presidential contests and has said this will be his final attempt.
The IEC is also preparing a peace agreement for presidential candidates and their supporters to commit to a peaceful campaign and election. More than one million registered voters are expected to participate in the December poll.
