In a statement issued over the weekend, the party expressed gratitude to fellow coalition members for their efforts to build a united opposition front but insisted that bilateral discussions had failed to uphold agreements already reached.
“In the absence of consensus on this and other outstanding matters, and consistent with the principle that prior agreed decisions may only be changed by consensus, APP‑Sobeyaa has therefore taken the decision to withdraw from the APEX Coalition talks,” the statement read.
The party added that it remained thankful for the engagement and wished the coalition success in its continued efforts.
APEX rejects claims
The APEX Initiative swiftly responded, rejecting APP‑Sobeyaa’s explanation. In a statement, APEX revealed it had received the withdrawal letter by email at 4:23 a.m. GMT on 6 September — nearly 12 hours before the final negotiation session.
APEX described APP‑Sobeyaa’s claims as “not factual,” stressing that no disagreements had occurred over power‑sharing and that no changes had been made to the draft coalition agreement in violation of agreed rules.
“APEX wishes to make a simple clarification that what is in APP‑Sobeyaa’s letter as reasons for withdrawing is not factual,” the statement said.
While acknowledging APP‑Sobeyaa’s right to withdraw, APEX emphasised its commitment to coalition‑building and thanked Gambians for their patience and support. The initiative reiterated its vision of working towards “a Gambia that is better for all.”
