Our explainer on why this contest matters will appear here.
The Gambia
Presidential election 2026 · West Africa
- Expected
- Announced
- Campaign
- Voting
- Counting
- Certified
- Transition
Stage 2 of 7 · Announced
5 December 2026
Dates, candidates and developments remain labelled by evidence and status.
Result status
PendingNo results yetRunoff ruleVerified
None — a single round decides the winnerCandidates
3 listedFinal list not yet publishedLast verified
28 Sept 2026, 02:45 GMTWithin this stage’s check windowHow the Vote Works
How the president is chosenDirect popular vote
How the winner is decidedFirst-past-the-post: the candidate with the most votes wins
If no one wins outrightNone — a single round decides the winner
Voting and counting
Ledger · every entry sourced and timedHow voting works
The voting procedure for this contest is being documented from the electoral authority’s own rules. Until then, Strata-AF™ shows nothing it cannot source.
How counting works
The counting and declaration chain for this contest is being documented from the electoral authority’s own rules. Until then, Strata-AF™ shows nothing it cannot source.
The ledger opens when polls open. Each entry records the time, the reporting body (electoral authority, observer mission or media), a confidence badge and a source link. Counting is shown stage by stage, with “reported of total” only where the authority publishes it. Claims by candidates or parties are labelled as claims, never as results.
Campaign trail
What was said, where, to whom, and why it mattersShowing 1 of 1 event
October 2026
Bensouda accuses NPP of focusing on winning elections rather than governing and addressing youth unemployment and irregular migration
As reportedSpeaking on Coffee Time, Bensouda said the NPP is consumed with how to win the election rather than how to govern, and questioned the government's vision on employment, healthcare, and stopping young Gambians from taking irregular migration routes.
Why it matters. Bensouda uses the interview to draw a policy contrast with Barrow's NPP, positioning Coalition 2026 as offering a substantive governing vision on socioeconomic issues central to the campaign.
The field
Ballot status from the electoral authorityKey dates
21 September 2026Nomination forms availableVerified
3 November 2026Nominations openVerified
14 November 2026Nominations closeVerified
5 December 2026Voting dayOfficial
Process integrity
Documented indicators, each attributed. Strata-AF™ does not score elections.
No indicators documented yet.
Change log
No changes to the record yet.When a date, status or result changes, the previous value, the new value and the source appear here.