The Independent Electoral Commission has turned down exiled President Yahya Jammeh’s request for the body to recognise his APRC breakaway group amid protracted internal rift.

In a letter sent to the IEC seen by Gambiana, Jammeh said: “I write to officially introduce to you the members of the new National Executive Committee (NEC), sometimes referred to as Executive Committee (EC) of my party, the APRC. 

“I have been the founder, leader and national chairman since APRC’s inception in 1996.”

According to Jammeh, who currently lives in exile in Equatorial Guinea, “the decision followed the public announcement by the former executive committee (EC) that they were forming an alliance with the NPP without following due process”.

He added that the move by Fabakary Tombong-Jatta and his committee, “violated the APRC Constitution and undermined the trust that the party members had in them and their leadership.”

He cited the party’s constitution which states that “failure to adhere to the principles of the party, the individual or individuals shall face the following disciplinary measures: dismissal, suspension or charges to be determined by executive powers.”

The former ruling party has been embroiled in a bitter power struggle between the pro-Jammeh camp and the pro-Fabakary Tombong-Jatta faction. 

The rift started last year in the run up to the presidential election after the current APRC executive led by Tombong-Jatta 

fell out with Jammeh over a coalition deal with the Barrow government. 

Jammeh sacked Tombong-Jatta and his executive and appointed a new body to run the party’s affairs.

Tombong-Jatta ignored the sacking on the ground that he was the legitimate leader of the party and Jammeh’s leadership role in the party was merely ceremonial.  

However, IEC has asked the pro-Jammeh faction to stop using the APRC party symbols as they are not officially recognised as the party’s representatives.

IEC communications officer, Pa Makan Khan speaking exclusively to Gambiana, said: “In fact, that group is not a recognised group at all. The only recognised APRC is the Tombong- Jatta led APRC. 

“And any other group whatever name they call themselves is not recognised by the IEC because based on the previous congress of APRC Tombong-Jatta led executive was appointed by the party members.”

He said the IEC rules states that “any person or any political party executive member has to be resident within the country.

“No person has the mandate to make a decision of a political party if he or she is not a resident within the country.”

“So, I would say the letter [of Jammeh] to the IEC is being disregarded based on the fact that the recognised APRC is the Fabakary Tombong-Jatta led APRC,” he added.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba