APP-Sobeyaa leader Essa Mbye Faal has withdrawn from the Coalition 2026 flag-bearer selection process, dealing another significant blow to efforts to forge a united opposition challenge against President Adama Barrow in the December presidential election.
Faal reportedly pulled out only minutes before the coalition was expected to vote on its presidential candidate, raising fresh questions about disagreements within a process already weakened by withdrawals and disputes over its structure.
His departure is particularly significant because Faal had been one of the strongest advocates of a candidate-led coalition. Earlier this year, he rejected proposals for a party-led arrangement, arguing that opposition stakeholders should collectively select the individual best positioned to lead a unified challenge against Barrow.
Faal had repeatedly maintained that opposition unity offered the strongest opportunity to defeat the incumbent and warned against what he described as attempts to simply “anoint” a predetermined candidate.
His withdrawal therefore represents an important turning point for Coalition 2026.
The development also raises questions over whether APP-Sobeyaa will continue supporting the wider coalition after its leader’s departure from the flag-bearer contest.
With the presidential election approaching, Coalition 2026 now faces the difficult task of maintaining credibility, managing internal disagreements and convincing opposition voters that the remaining parties and candidates can still construct a formidable electoral alternative to Barrow.
