Incumbent President Yahya Jammeh, in office since seizing power in a 1994 coup, faced Ousainou Darboe of the United Democratic Party and Hamat Bah of the National Alliance for Democracy and Development.

[4] The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) did not send any monitors because of "an unacceptable level of control of the electronic media by the party in power... and an opposition and electorate cowed by repression and intimidation".

"[7] On the election day Bah claimed that he had not heard of any intimidation of his supporters[8] although Darboe claimed the vote was fraudulent, rejected the result[7][9][10] and complained of intimidation from the presence of military vehicles on the streets.

[11] The Independent Electoral Commission also said there was no intimidation[12] and that "it is impossible to rig elections in Gambia".

[8] There was also criticism of the election organisation as many voters went to the wrong polling station.