Bakary Bunja Dabo, a former vice president under the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), has made a clean break from the PPP by announcing the formation of a new political party.

Mr Dabo, commonly known as BB Dabo, had a bitter feud with other executive members of the PPP after his leadership defeat to newcomer, Papa Njie, at the party’s congress last December.

The leadership dispute, which is being played out in the courts, has threatened the very existence of the PPP party, one of the oldest political parties in the country.

However, BB Dabo has decided to launch his own party, the Gambia For All Party (GFAP).

At a political conference at the Friendship Hostel on Saturday, BB Dabo made the announcement to a group of delegates who were gathered to give a report on their activities in their respective areas.

The delegates were drawn from former PPP party members and supporters.

BB Dabo told the delegates that the party was formed at a crucial moment in the history of the country.

“Given everything that happened and is happening in our current political discourse, there could not have been a better time to have a party like this.

“Let’s leave this place with renewed dedication and loyalty to The Gambia. This is a fight for a better Gambia.”

On the reasons for leaving the PPP, BB Dabo said that the December congress should have been an occasion to re-energise the PPP and launch it forward.

“But unfortunately things did not go the way most people would have wanted.

“I called on our supporters to now forget what happened at the December congress and focus on the future.”

Mr Dabo added: “there is no personal animosity between me and anyone in the Papa Njie camp.”

Bolong Sonko, a former PPP grandee who defected to BB Dabo’s new party, said they are yet to register the new party with the Independent Electoral Commission.

Alhagie Yaya Ceesay, also a former grandee of the PPP, said he is optimistic about the political atmosphere in the country.