Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, Minister of Information
By Buba Gagigo
Gambia’s Minister of Information, Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, has stated that President Adama Barrow has the constitutional right to seek a third term in office if he chooses to do so. His remarks came in response to statements made by Demba Ali Jawo, the Edward Francis Small Centre For Rights and Justice, and Alagie Saidy Barrow.
Speaking on West Coast Radio, Dr. Ceesay dismissed concerns raised by critics, asserting that the law allows the president to contest the 2026 election.
“By the way, The Francis, small whatever, I can’t remember the name, It’s a one-man entity. So it doesn’t matter what he (Madi Jobarteh) thinks or he doesn’t think, that is not important. Demba Ali Jawo has a right to express his opinion as a citizen of this country, the same as Barrow (Alagie) and the same as anyone else. But millions of Gambians don’t have that issue and are not talking about that. What they are talking about is that the law permits President Barrow to contest, if he so wishes. And anybody who wants to stop that you are going against the law, and that can be termed as insurrection. You cannot accept a country where there is lawlessness,” Dr. Ceesay told West Coast Radio.
Dr. Ceesay emphasized that no legal provision bars the president from running for a third term and that opposition to his candidacy should be expressed through democratic means.
“but as long as the law accepts him to contest, he can contest if he so wishes, and nobody can stop it. People have the right to voice their opinions. What they can do is, everybody have one vote, if they are not happy with the way he’s running the country, let them wait until the elections and let them go and vote against him. That is the best they can do. But they cannot stop him from running if the laws allow him to run,” he said.
The minister reiterated that the ultimate power rests with voters.
“And nobody can stop it. And I’m going to emphasize that nobody can stop His Excellency, the President from going for a third term if he so wishes. What you can do, the only power they have is their vote, and it’s not to vote for him, but anything else, they have no powers,” he said.