Fabakary Tombong Jatta has rejected former President Yahya Jammeh’s claim to leadership of the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC), insisting that the only legitimate faction is the one under his command.

Jatta’s remarks follow Jammeh’s recent announcement that he had reclaimed control of the party and dismissed several of his supporters still active in The Gambia.

Speaking at a meeting in Foni, Jatta, who’s also the National Assembly Speaker dismissed Jammeh’s claims as baseless, asserting his continued leadership of the APRC.

“There is only one APRC. There is no other APRC except the one under my leadership. Whether it’s ‘No to Alliance’ or anything else, it is not valid. No one else has the right to use the APRC logo or colours except the leadership under me,” Jatta said.

He added that those aligned with Jammeh’s breakaway faction are not genuine representatives of the party.

“During elections, they don’t register under APRC or campaign under the party. Instead, they run as independents. That alone is proof they are not APRC,” he added.

Despite the ongoing rift, Jatta extended an olive branch to the splinter group, calling for unity and reconciliation.

“We are open to reconciliation and unification. We are ready to welcome back all those who left.”

Tensions between Jatta and Jammeh have persisted since 2021, when the APRC executive led by Jatta threw its support behind President Adama Barrow’s re-election bid—a move Jammeh condemned as a betrayal. He subsequently announced the expulsion of Jatta’s leadership from the party, a dismissal Jatta and his allies refused to recognise.

By Adama Makasuba