By Awa S Jallow
As the 2026 Presidential Election drawing closer, The Gambia’s political arena is seeing a significant shift. The Alliance of Social Democrats Movement (ASD) has officially thrown its weight behind independent presidential candidate Marie Sock, hailing her as the unifying figure capable of guiding the nation forward.
This crucial endorsement was announced during a recent press conference, held on Monday at Bijilo. Abdoulie Bittaye, the chairman of the Social Democrats Movement, articulated the compelling reasons behind their alliance with Marie Sock. “We aligned with Madam Marie Sock because of her principles and the experience that she has, which is similar to ours,” Bittaye asserted.
He highlighted widespread sentiment among Gambians, towards Marie Sock. Despite these challenges, he noted her enduring “resilience, real bravery, real love, and consistent endeavoring change as a woman.”. Bittaye further revealed that Sock’s entry into the presidential race was not driven by personal ambition but by a clear necessity. “That was why she was forced into becoming a candidate because she was not desiring to be a candidate,” he explained.
He further challenged political adversaries, including members of the NPP and UDP, to acknowledge that they too have likely “contacted Marie Sock to join their political parties because of her qualities, self-representation to lead. Emphasizing the indispensable role of women in society, Bittaye declared, “there is no household without a woman, the woman is a nurturer and the one who stitches things up, and Marie Sock is the only person who can change the narrative of the Gambia.”.
Adama Sanneh, Campaign Manager for the Social Democrats Movement, painted a stark picture of the nation’s current struggles, contending that Marie Sock is the sole individual capable of stabilizing The Gambia.Addressing anticipated skepticism regarding her gender, Sanneh firmly stated, “Some might say she is a woman and can’t rule the country, but to them, she can rule the country.” he said.
He expressed unwavering confidence in Sock’s compassionate approach, citing her “sympathy for the kids, men, and women,” a quality he believes will empower Gambian women when she assume the presidency.
Sanneh stressed the urgent need for systemic change to deter young people from undertaking the perilous “backway” journey, proclaiming, “Marie Sock is the only solution to that.”. For her part, Marie Sock, said “the foolery is too much, and that’s one of the reasons we formed a Revolutionary Movement,”. She signalled her intent to challenge the established order. She cautioned the electorate to prepare for a surge of opportunistic politicians in 2026, noting that “all of a sudden, everyone wants a piece of the pie, saying even some of the journalists would probably say they’re a candidate.”.
Sock unequivocally attributed The Gambia’s current challenges to the incumbent administration, stating, “the phenomenon that The Gambia is in right now is created by the President because he believes that you’ve to be in the system in order for you to make it.” She clarified that their movement’s objective for 2026 extends beyond merely unseating President Adama Barrow; saying it is fundamentally “about the country’s sovereignty to move forward.”
She added: “We need people that are ready to work. We need people that are ready to ask questions. You don’t need to be a journalist to ask questions; as Gambians, we need to stand up for ourselves. Gambia is not for sale, Gambia is not for somebody to get rich, Gambia is a sacrifice.” She concluded by urging all eligible voters to exercise extreme vigilance as the election approaches, advising them to “choose wisely.”.
