Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The ruling National People’s Party (NPP) is facing fresh turbulence as it grapples with allegations of an unauthorized collection of voter registration details among its members. In an official statement issued Monday, the party’s deputy spokesperson, Seedy SK Njie, categorically denied any involvement of the party in these activities, warning those responsible to desist immediately and urging party members to report any suspicious conduct.

The alleged activity has stoked concerns within the NPP about the security of its internal processes and the broader implications for the party’s unity. While Njie did not specify who is behind this illicit data collection, the party’s cautionary tone hints at deepening fractures within its ranks.

This unease coincides with the public defiance of a breakaway faction led by Bai Sankareh, who is spearheading efforts to establish the National Democratic Party (NDP).

Sankareh confirmed that the NDP will not bow to the NPP’s seven-day ultimatum to abandon its formation plans. Instead, the faction is proceeding with registering the new party, having reportedly held successful meetings in Kanilai and Bantang.

Compounding the crisis is the scrutiny faced by the NPP’s National Youth President, Kebba Madi Bojang. The party has demanded that Bojang explain his repeated absences from critical events—such as the NPP Fundraising Gala and the opening of its headquarters in Bundung—and respond to rumors that he is aiding the NDP’s formation.

Bojang has been given a seven-day deadline to clarify his role, after which the party’s National Executive may take further action.

These simultaneous developments suggest an undercurrent of rebellion and possible realignment within the NPP. While the party frames the unauthorized voter registration data collection as a separate and illicit operation, the timing of the NDP’s emergence raises questions about a potential link between the two issues.

Could the breakaway faction or its sympathizers be leveraging these clandestine data-gathering activities to mobilize support or recruit defectors? Or is the unauthorized data collection an opportunistic act by individuals exploiting the party’s internal chaos for personal gain?

The NPP’s official line has sought to downplay the possibility of a coordinated challenge, focusing instead on isolating “unsanctioned” activities from the core leadership. However, the steady rise of the NDP and the party’s internal disciplinary measures suggest a struggle for control that could have far-reaching implications for the ruling party’s future cohesion.

As the NPP urges its grassroots militants to remain vigilant and loyal, it faces the dual challenge of stemming an apparent exodus and managing perceptions of disunity.

Whether these incidents are mere growing pains of a young ruling party or signs of a deeper ideological split remains to be seen.

What is clear, however, is that the battle lines within the NPP are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.