Deputy Seedy Njie at Risk of Minority Caucus Motion After Quorum Failure
President Barrow meet Deputy Speaker Seedy Njie with Speaker Jatta © The Gambia National Assembly
By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT
Askanwi can confirm that The Gambia’s National Assembly failed to achieve a quorum today, 15th June 2026, after members of the Minority Caucus held a meeting discussing the allegations surrounding Deputy Speaker Seedy Njie.
The two events happened simultaneously as members of the Minority Caucus got wind that Speaker Jatta would not preside over the session today. Reacting to this, the Minority Caucus held a meeting to discuss their concerns about Deputy Njie presiding over Parliament.
Speaking to Minority Leader Hon. Alhagie S. Darboe of Brikama North, he informed Askanwi that, “Before we could be there, we learned that the Speaker had called that there would be no quorum. I think usually what happens, if the Speaker is concerned that there will be no quorum, is that there would be a period for the Assembly to stand down for a number of minutes and then ring a bell, but unfortunately that did not happen.”
According to Hon. Darboe, they had a meeting in the morning with some stakeholders from 10 to 11am.
“After that meeting, some concerns were raised by those members who were there that the Speaker is not in town, meaning the Deputy Speaker would be presiding,” said Hon. Darboe. He noted that there was an allegation hanging over Deputy Speaker Seedy Njie which must be discussed. “So that’s what we were discussing, but before we could conclude, we were informed by those who went to the chamber that the Speaker had adjourned the session,” said the Minority Leader.
Hon. Darboe noted that it was standard procedure for the Speaker to ring the bell for a quorum; however, this did not happen. This prompted our reporter to ask if the Speaker got wind of the Minority Caucus’ plans, to which he responded, “Maybe he could have had a tip or something like that.”
Our reporter also asked Hon. Darboe to confirm if the Minority Caucus was preparing a motion to stop the Deputy Speaker from presiding over Parliament until the allegations against him were cleared. In response, Hon. Darboe stated, “Well, I cannot comment on that one as Leader of the Minority. I will wait until we get to that.”
Minority Leader Hon Alhagie S Darbo © Askanwi
Our reporter attempted to contact the Majority Leader, the Deputy Majority Leader, and other members of the Majority Caucus without success, apart from Hon. Amadou Camara of Nianija, who confirmed that he had an exam today and had taken leave of absence with permission.
It is anticipated that the Minority Caucus will table the motion tomorrow, which, if it succeeds, will see Deputy Speaker Seedy S.K. Njie stand down from presiding over Parliament.
Deputy Speaker Seedy Njie’s scandal went viral on social media after a series of leaked audio recordings were published, revealing his conversations with community leaders and journalist Omar P. Jallow, formerly of Gambia Radio and Television Services, who was working at the Office of the Vice President.
The whole saga came to public attention after journalist Omar P. Jallow, from the same region, the Central River Region, as the Deputy Speaker, organised a community event where he invited Kanifing Municipal Council Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda and the Deputy Speaker himself as guests.
This allegedly did not sit well with the Deputy Speaker, who is a top-ranking official of the incumbent National People’s Party headed by President Adama Barrow. Journalist Jallow came out publicly to narrate his interrogation by the State Intelligence Services and his transfer from the Office of the Vice President. Eventually, Mr. Jallow resigned, and the revelations started to make waves.
According to journalist Jallow, his dismissal was spearheaded by Deputy Speaker Seedy Njie. Audio recordings of their meetings have been released in which the Deputy Speaker was heard making some very shocking statements.
Some of the statements are of a tribal nature, underlining nepotism in the highest echelons of government. Some of the accusations labelled former top-ranking government officials as members of the opposition, with the Deputy Speaker allegedly stopping their appointments. In some instances, these individuals were accused of being Mandinka and members of the United Democratic Party.
Some of the audios suggest that Deputy Njie has influence in various ministries and institutions where he decides who gets to keep their job.
Deputy Speaker Seedy Njie is also facing two petitions against him at the National Assembly, where Parliament will have to decide whether to commence an investigation against him and determine his fate while an investigation is pending.
If it is decided that an investigation will not take place, it remains to be seen whether members of the Minority Caucus can force the issue through their motion tomorrow and how long they will be willing to stand by their demands.
Members of the Sixth Legislature © Askanwi Media
Below is the list of 24 members who were absent without permission;
1. Hon. Alhagie S Darbo - Brikama North (Minority Leader)
2. Hon. Omar Darboe - Upper Niumi (Majority Chief Whip)
3. Hon. Sulayman Saho - Central Baddibu (Minority Chief Whip)
4. Hon. Suwaibou Touray - Wuli East
5. Hon. Sainey Jawara - Lower Saloum
6. Hon. Alfusainey Ceesay - Sami
7. Hon. Lamin Ceesay - Kiang West
8. Hon. Alieu Baldeh - Jarra West
9. Hon. Musa Cham - Serekunda
10. Hon. Kebba K Barrow - Kombo North
11. Hon. Tamsir Cham - Lower Niumi
12. Hon. Yunusa N. Bah - Kiang Central
13. Hon. Bakary K. Badjie - Foni Bintang Karanai
14. Hon. Kemo Gassama - Lower Baddibu
15. Hon. Omar Jobe - Niani
16. Hon. Kebba Lang Fofana - Nominated Member
17. Hon. Musa Badjie - Tallinding Kunjang
18. Hon. Maimuna Ceesay - Nominated Member
19. Hon. Saikou Bah - Basse
20. Hon. Bakary Kora - Fulladu West
21. Hon. Birom J.S. Sowe - Niamina West
22. Hon. Haruna Barry - Jarra East
23. Hon. Lamin J. Sanneh - Brikama South
24. Hon. Omar Jammeh - JanjanBureh
