Madar (Banjul) - The leader of The Gambia's UNITE party, Talib Ahmed Bensouda, submitted his nomination papers for the 5 December presidential election at the headquarters of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) in Kanifing on Saturday, 7 November 2026, The Gambia Journal reported.
According to the paper, he presented all 16 required credentials, arriving at the commission at 11am, about 30 minutes before the end of his allotted slot, accompanied by party officials and supporters. The IEC has yet to rule on his eligibility.
The filing comes amid a legal dispute over findings of the Local Government Commission of Inquiry, accepted by the government against Bensouda as former mayor of the Kanifing Municipal Council and concerning expenditure authorisations, recruitment and procurement. The findings raise a question under Section 62 of the 1997 Constitution, which bars from the presidency anyone found by a commission of inquiry to be liable for misconduct while holding public office.
Bensouda filed a notice of appeal at the Court of Appeal on 24 June 2026 against the findings, and resigned as mayor with effect from 6 November after eight years and five months, a step his party said was meant to meet constitutional requirements. In a letter dated 5 November, President Adama Barrow confirmed the appeal and said the government White Paper is neither a court judgment nor a ruling on anyone's eligibility, which falls to the IEC subject to the courts, the paper said.
"We are comfortable and we are more than hopeful. The law is very clear," said his brother and lawyer, Aziz Bensouda. Quoted by the Kerr Fatou news site, Talib Bensouda, the Coalition 2026 candidate, said there was no legal basis to exclude him, that he expected the IEC to process his nomination according to the law, and called for a peaceful and credible electoral process.
Nominations at the IEC run from 3 to 14 November. President Adama Barrow is seeking a third term in the election.
