Ousman Madikay Faal (Pa Alhagi) Secretary-General and Party Leader
By Buba Gagigo
A faction of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) led by Ousman Madikay Faal has strongly refuted claims by Kebba Jallow that he has regained leadership of the party. Faal, who assumed leadership during the party’s last congress, described Jallow’s assertions as misleading and lacking legitimacy.
On Tuesday, the PPP’s official Facebook page announced that Kebba Jallow had resumed his role as Secretary-General and Party Leader, citing a decision by the party’s National Electoral Commission (NEC) that disqualified Faal and six other candidates following the December 21st Congress.
However, in a statement responding to Jallow’s announcement, Faal dismissed these claims, arguing that the disqualification narrative is being propagated by individuals with no legitimate authority.
“Please be advised that false claims of disqualification are being spread and propagated by former members of a now-defunct committee that no longer holds the authority or legitimacy to make such determinations. Further, statements by Kebba Jallow referencing “Electoral Commission” were used intentionally to mislead the public into thinking such determinations involved the Independent Electoral Commission of The Gambia (IEC),” Ousman Madikay Faal said in a response to Kebba Jallow.
Faal highlighted it as crucial to protect what he described as the public and the loyal members of the PPP and clarify that actions of the National Electoral Commission of the PPP (NEC) should not be confused with authoritative pronouncements from the Independent Electoral Commission of Gambia (IEC).
“The former – NEC- is an internal body created by PPP to manage its electoral process, while the latter -IEC- is a recognized national authority. The IEC of Gambia is not involved in nor has it made any statements regarding the PPP’s election results. It is important to highlight that Mr. Kebba Jallow, who orchestrated the formation of this electoral commission, did so with a clear intent—to utilize the commission as a means to fortify his own power and influence within the party. Despite the numerous challenges and internal conflicts that arose during his tenure, the dedicated members of the PPP collectively decided to remove him from his position in a bid to restore integrity and transparency to our electoral system,” he said.
Faal stated that in a continued effort to cling to power, Mr. Jallow has been using the party’s electoral commission to spread misleading information, thereby disregarding the collective will of the party’s members
“Under Mr. Jallow’s leadership over the past four years, the PPP has encountered significant challenges to its credibility, leading to his eventual ousting during the recent Congress.
This statement serves as our official response to the troubling actions taken by Kebba Jallow and his electoral commission, whom we believe are orchestrating a covert coup against the democratic framework that underpins our party. Following the decisive vote from our members, under a respected democratic process, Mr. Jallow was officially dismissed from his role, paving the way for Ousman Madikay Faal to be elected as his successor. However, since that critical moment, Mr. Jallow has obstinately refused to relinquish his post, seemingly determined to undermine the democratic principles that our party stands for,” he said.
Faal accused Mr. Jallow of enlisting the support of a disbanded electoral commission comprised of individuals loyal to his personal agenda.
“This coalition appears aimed at entrenching his illegitimate grip on power, raising profound concerns about the integrity of our electoral processes and the democratic rights of our citizens. We urge all members of the PPP to treat any statements or communications issued by Kebba Jallow or his faction of the electoral commission as lacking legitimacy, as they do not reflect the values, interests, or intentions of the party or its supporters. The People’s Progressive Party remains steadfast in its commitment to upholding the principles of democracy and will vigorously oppose any attempts to dilute or disregard the voice of our constituents,” he concluded.