𝐀𝐏𝐞𝐗 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

The APeX Secretariat has announced the conclusion of more than 18 months of coalition-building negotiations involving several opposition political parties and movements, culminating in the proposed formation of a new political coalition named CHANGE.

According to a press statement issued on Sunday, 9 August, the coalition’s official name is CHANGE — Coalition for Hope, Accountability, National-renewal, Good-governance, and Equity.

The negotiations facilitated by APeX involved the 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞’𝐬 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐲 (𝐀𝐏𝐏) 𝐒𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐲𝐚𝐚, 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐚 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐥𝐥 (𝐆𝐅𝐀), 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐲 (𝐍𝐔𝐏), 𝐓𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐱 𝐑𝐞𝐰𝐦𝐢 𝐌𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, and 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐲 (𝐔𝐃𝐏).

APeX also acknowledged the departure of UNITE, which notified the coalition of its decision to withdraw from the negotiations.

The participating stakeholders are now considering the final Draft Coalition Agreement, including a proposed process for selecting the coalition’s flagbearer.

The agreement is expected to be formally adopted on Sunday, 16 August 2026, while the flagbearer selection process is scheduled to begin immediately thereafter and conclude by Sunday, 30 August 2026.

APeX said full details of the flagbearer selection process will be published in due course.

𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐖𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

APeX has called on other opposition political parties, political movements and aspiring presidential candidates to join the proposed coalition.

“We are stronger together by our numbers!”

Interested parties and candidates have been encouraged to contact the coalition through admin@change2026.org.

𝐀𝐏𝐞𝐗 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬

Reflecting on the lengthy negotiations, APeX acknowledged that the process had not been easy.

The organisation nevertheless commended the participating stakeholders for what it described as their maturity, patriotism, mutual respect and spirit of compromise throughout the negotiations.

APeX said the commitment to dialogue and consensus had laid the foundation for what it believes could become a transformative political partnership in the service of the Gambian people.

The announcement comes as political parties and movements continue preparations ahead of The Gambia’s 2026 presidential election, with opposition forces seeking greater cooperation and a united platform to challenge the incumbent political establishment.

Source: APeX Press Statement, 9 August 2026