Faal Joins Barrow’s NPP Alliance as Sidat Yaffa Also Moves Camp Ahead of December Poll

By CTV Africa Staff Reporter

Former presidential candidate and APP-Sobeyaa leader Essa Mbye Faal has formally joined President Adama Barrow’s National People’s Party (NPP)-led political alliance, marking a significant shift in the political landscape ahead of The Gambia’s December 5 presidential election.

Faal signed the agreement with President Barrow at State House on Sunday, September 27, bringing his political movement into the growing NPP-led alliance. Professor Sidat Yaffa, who recently withdrew from the opposition Coalition 2026 flag-bearer selection process, is also reported to be joining the alliance.

The move is particularly notable because Faal has previously been a vocal critic of the Barrow administration. In 2025, he said he was returning to politics to give a voice to ordinary Gambians and called for opposition parties to unite against the government. He also said at the time that he could not see himself serving in the Barrow government under the circumstances then prevailing.

Faal: ‘I Have Not Asked for Any Job’

Defending his decision to join the NPP-led alliance, Faal said the agreement was motivated by his assessment of what he considers to be in the national interest rather than personal gain.

“I have not asked for any job, but I will take any job in the interest of the country,” Faal said.

He further insisted that no government position or financial reward was part of his decision.

“I asked for no position. I was offered no position. I asked for no money. I was offered no money,” he said.

Faal said the agreement focuses on a number of proposed reforms, including constitutional and electoral reforms, strengthening anti-corruption institutions, implementing outstanding recommendations of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission, and reforms in the civil service and security sector.

His decision, however, has prompted questions from some former supporters and opposition figures, particularly because of his previous criticism of the government.

Mixed Reaction from Gambians

The announcement has generated mixed reactions among Gambians, with some welcoming the alliance as an opportunity for political cooperation, while others are questioning Faal’s change of political direction.

Presidential aspirant Fatou Jaw Manneh said Faal has the democratic right to enter an alliance with any political party but described the timing of his decision as surprising.

“Essa has every right to form an alliance with any political party, including the NPP. That is his democratic right, and we MUST respect it,” Manneh said. However, she added that “the timing of it all” shocked and disappointed her.

For some ordinary Gambians, the issue is less about the personalities involved and more about what the latest political realignment means for the country’s political direction.

A resident speaking about the development questioned whether politicians should be judged by their previous statements or by the positions they adopt as elections approach.

Others have welcomed the development, arguing that political alliances are part of democratic politics and that politicians should be free to work together where they believe cooperation can serve the country.

The reaction reflects a broader debate that has emerged across the country over shifting political alliances ahead of December 5. Faal himself has acknowledged the criticism, while maintaining that his decision should be judged by the reforms and national objectives contained in the agreement rather than by political labels.

A Changing Political Landscape

Faal’s move follows a series of political realignments ahead of the presidential election. The NPP-led alliance has attracted several former opposition figures and political movements, while opposition parties have also been working to consolidate their own coalitions.

Professor Sidat Yaffa’s reported move toward the NPP comes after his withdrawal from the Coalition 2026 flag-bearer contest in August. His departure was one of several developments that exposed divisions and competing interests within the opposition coalition-building process.

With less than three months to the December 5 election, the movement of Faal and Yaffa into Barrow’s camp adds another layer to an already fluid political contest.

For voters, the latest developments leave questions about political consistency, the terms of the new alliances and the specific commitments being made to the Gambian public. As campaigning intensifies, the parties and politicians will face growing pressure to explain not only who they are aligning with, but also what those alliances are intended to deliver for citizens.