APRC Not Shaken By No-To-Alliance – FJC

Fatoumatta Jahumpa Ceesay (FIC), the General Secretary of the former ruling APRC now in alliance with President Barrow’s NPP, has said the emergence of the splinter  group  No To Alliance as a political movement has not and will not shake the APRC under the leadership of Fabakary Tombong Jatta.

The Movement had been at loggerheads with the APRC on one hand and the authorities on the other over which side holds legitimacy as APRC.

Both the IEC and the police recognised the faction led by Fabakary Tombong Jatta as APRC forcing the No-To-Alliance to grudgingly abandon its claim to be part of the party and instead adopted the name No To Alliance – Babili Mansa.

 Many observers believe the Movement’s new status as a recognised political movement will give it a new impetus, as it continues to claim that it is the real APRC, and mocking the Tombong Jatta faction as merely holding unto the stamp and mere papers.

”We are the side with actual people of APRC,” its supporters chanted at its maiden rally as a recognised political movement at the Buffer Zone Saturday

Reacting to Saturday’s maiden rally of the Movement controlled by former President Jammeh, Madame Ceesay said the existing political realities does not mean anything has changed  since the 2021 elections where President Barrow won  three out of  the five constituencies in Foni, the supposed base of No To Alliance. 

“Some No To Alliance members are already coming to join Barrow anyway. So nothing has changed and we the APRC will support and accompany  the president to victory as has happened in 2021, and with a bigger margin this time,” FJC said.

Warnings against provocation

Meanwhile Madame Jahumpa- Ceesay condemned what she called a naked provocation by the No To Alliance whose supporters, she alleged, came to Fabakary’s residence in Tallingding to mock APRC supporters waiting to go to the president’s meeting at Serekunda.

“That was a very dangerous act and the APRC will never tolerate such provocations and I wish to make it clear that we are prepared to  defend ourselves against  any further attacks,” she warned.

According to FJC, the APRC respects all political leaders  including  the newly appointed flagbearer of  No To Alliance   Hon Almamy Gibba, and expect maximum  respect from all in return. “However we are well capable of Gatsa Gatsa (returning fire for fire),” she warned

Madame Jahumpa Ceesay stressed that the APRC does not aspire and will never be a cult.”We are a national political party with members drawn.from.all over the country,”” she said,

According to her there is only one APRC and that is led by Fabakary Tombong Jatta.

Source: The Standard