The legal battle for the leadership of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) intensified in the High Court as Justice Sonia Akinbiyi cleared the way for disputed leader Ousman Madikay Faal to formally join the lawsuit challenging his recognition by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
The proceedings have further delayed a decision on an injunction that seeks to freeze the party’s current leadership structure.
The hearing began with Counsel Segga Gaye, representing Mr Faal, moving a motion to join the suit as an “Interested Party”. Despite the Plaintiff having not yet been served with the motion; Counsel Adama Sillah (representing the PPP faction led by Kebba E. Jallow) raised no objections, stating, “All parties that are interested can join.”
Justice Sonia Akinbiyi ordered that Faal be joined to the suit, effectively turning the case into a three-way legal tug-of-war between the Kebba Jallow-led faction, the IEC, and Faal’s recognised leadership.
The motion filed in court revealed a deep fracture within the oldest political party following its elective congress on December 21, 2024.
The Plaintiff’s Case (The Jallow Faction) represented by Counsel Sillah argues that Faal should be restrained from being recognised or “sworn in” as Secretary General.
Counsel Sillah claims the Congress adopted a new constitution requiring candidates to sign a “Declaration/Consent Form” promising not to sue the party over election results. Counsel Sillah further contend that Faal and others “wilfully refused” to sign the mandatory undertaking and were therefore disqualified by the PPP’s own internal Electoral Commission in January 2025.
The motion, filed by Counsel Sillah, argues that the swearing-in or official recognition of Mr Faal would gravely breach the party’s legal rights and undermine its internal dispute resolution mechanisms.
According to an affidavit by Mariama Bah, a legal assistant at Mari Bantang Chambers, the dispute traces back to the party’s elective congress held on December 21, 2024. The party claims that during this congress, a revised constitution was adopted that introduced a mandatory requirement for all candidates: they must sign a “Declaration/Consent Form” promising to accept election results without taking legal action against the party.
The Party alleges that several candidates participated in the election process without signing this mandatory form. On January 28, 2025, the PPP’s internal Electoral Commission issued a verdict disqualifying all candidates who “wilfully refused” to sign the undertaking and the internal commission affirmed only those who complied with the constitutional provisions as legitimate office holders.
The party further alleges that while they were attempting to resolve these internal disputes through mediation—including efforts facilitated by the Inter-Party Committee (IPC) and Hon. Halifa Sallah the IEC “abruptly announced” and recognised Mr Faal as the leader.
The PPP argues that the IEC’s silence and subsequent recognition of disqualified candidates show a lack of consistency and bias in its supervision of registered political parties. The High Court is now being asked to maintain the status quo until the main suit is determined.
Ousman Madikay Faal hits back filing a counter-motion seeking to join the legal battle between the PPP and the IEC as an Interested Party represented by Counsel Segga Gaye, Ousman Madikay Faal asserts that he is the rightfully elected Secretary General and Party Leader, describing the lawsuit against his recognition as an “unauthorised” action.
In his supporting affidavit, Ousman Madikay Faal states that he was elected on December 21, 2024, following a transparent congress in Banjul where candidates confirmed the accuracy of the vote counts without dispute.
He further claims that his opponent and former leader, Kebba E. Jallow, initially accepted the outcome and publicly acknowledged his defeat in media interviews before challenging the results.
Ousman Madikay Faal’s legal team has launched a direct challenge to the constitutional basis of the Plaintiff’s case. He argues that the disqualification petition filed against him relies on Article 14.3(C), which he claims “does not exist” in the current PPP Constitution.
Counsel Gaye argued that the provision requiring candidates to sign a consent form was a proposed amendment that failed to receive the necessary two-thirds support from delegates, receiving only 49 votes out of 106.
Ousman Madikay Faal highlights that both the PPP Board of Trustees and the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) have formally recognised his leadership. On March 27, 2025, the IEC reportedly wrote to Faal confirming his election as the party leader.
Ousman Madikay Faal alleges that the current lawsuit was initiated by Kebba E. Jallow without the “mandate, approval, or authorisation” of the party’s legitimate leadership. He maintains that his involvement in the case is essential to prevent the court from being misled and to protect the democratic will of the party’s delegates.
Following the joinder of Mr Faal, Counsel K. Sanyang for the IEC argued that the Plaintiffs must now amend their processes and serve the new party with all existing motions. Justice….agreed, directing Counsel Sillah to file necessary briefs within 14 days.
The matter has been adjourned to April 27, 2026, at 12:30 PM for confirmation of service on the new Interested Party and the indefinite hearing” of the motion for an injunction.
