A group of founding members, executive members and regional chairpersons of the APP-Sobeyaa Party have rejected the party’s alliance with the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) and called for the resignation of party leader Essa Mbye Faal.

In a statement issued in Banjul on Thursday, the group said it did not agree with Faal’s decision to enter into an alliance with the NPP, arguing that the move was made without following the party’s constitutional procedures.

The group said the former All People’s Party (APP), registered by the Independent Electoral Commission in January 2020, merged with the Sobeyaa Movement to form the APP-Sobeyaa Party. Faal was elected leader at the party’s congress on 21 December 2024.

According to the statement, the APP’s founding principles included promoting transparency, accountability and good governance, reducing poverty, creating jobs and building a prosperous Gambia.

The group accused Faal of departing from these principles by entering into the NPP alliance without securing the approval required under the party constitution.

“We completely disassociate ourselves from this decision,” the group said, while calling for Faal’s immediate resignation as Secretary General and party leader.

It said Faal would be free to join any political party of his choice in his personal capacity after stepping down.

The group also stressed that it did not represent the entire APP-Sobeyaa membership in supporting the NPP alliance and said it would announce further steps on the matter.

Maila Touray, the current Deputy Party Leader of APP-Sobeyaa and a founding member of the former APP, will coordinate the group’s next actions.

The statement was signed by Maila Touray, Alhagie Babou Jeng, Sir Jackal Cham, Mam Seedy Nile, Mbye Jobe and Saidina Kebbeb.