Political Survivors Disguised as Patriots: The APEX Illusion Exposed

Written by Yaya Dampha, NPP Diaspora Coordinator

Demba Ali Jawo and the APEX Initiative have neither the moral authority nor the credibility to lecture Gambians about opposition unity or the so-called “untenable situation” of the country. An organisation built on shaky foundations and led by individuals with questionable records cannot convince anyone—let alone unite a serious political opposition.

Let us start with credibility.

Demba Ali Jawo often presents himself as a victim of dictatorship and a champion of press freedom. The truth is far more nuanced. Yes, he was a senior member of the Gambia Press Union, but unlike many journalists who were hunted relentlessly, jailed, tortured, or permanently exiled, Jawo was going in and out of The Gambia. Many of us had no such luxury. Others paid with their lives, careers, and families. History should be told honestly, not selectively.

Now let us talk about performance, not rhetoric.

When Demba Ali Jawo was appointed Minister of Information, hopes were genuinely high. Gambians expected bold reforms—especially the removal of draconian media laws that we all fought against during the dictatorship. That was the collective cry of journalists, activists, and civil society.

What happened instead?

The draconian media laws remained firmly in the Constitution.

No meaningful legislative reform was initiated or completed.

No clear policy direction was set to professionalize or sanitize the media space.

Ironically, it was during Jawo’s tenure that the media environment deteriorated the most—marked by:

The rise of unprofessional and unethical media outlets

Rampant misinformation and propaganda

A toxic, unregulated broadcasting culture

Until his removal, Demba Ali Jawo cannot point to a single enduring achievement that elevated journalism, strengthened ethics, or restored professionalism in Gambian media. That failure is part of the legacy he is now trying to erase with political commentary.

And let us be very clear on one crucial point:

If President Adama Barrow were the authoritarian figure Jawo and his allies try to paint him as, those same draconian media laws would already be in full force. The fact that President Barrow has not weaponized those laws—despite relentless provocation, misinformation, and abuse—speaks volumes about his democratic restraint and commitment to freedoms.

Now to APEX itself.

APEX is not struggling because opposition parties are stubborn.

APEX is struggling because it is led by political failures whose relevance depends on President Barrow losing power.

These are individuals who:

Failed in office

Failed to reform systems they once controlled

Failed to earn sustained public trust.

Their sudden concern about “national interest” rings hollow. Gambians can clearly see that their political and social relevance ends if President Adama Barrow wins the 2026 election—which, by all indications, he is well-positioned to do.

The irony is painful.

Jawo accuses President Barrow of being surrounded by people focused on survival. Yet it is precisely Jawo and his cohorts who are fighting for political survival—repackaged as “unity,” sold as “patriotism,” but driven by self-interest.

Finally, let us talk about results, because politics is not a debating society.

The Gambian people are wiser than APEX assumes. They vote based on lived reality, not studio talk shows.

Under President Adama Barrow and the NPP government, Gambians have seen:

Massive infrastructural development across the country

Strengthened democratic space and institutional support

Policy reforms and stability

Improved public service salaries, income, and job security

A peaceful political environment unmatched in our recent history

These are tangible achievements, not theoretical grievances.

That is why no amount of noise from APEX will rewrite reality.

That is why Gambians will decide for themselves—not because they are forced, but because they know what is good for them.

Unity cannot be built on bitterness.

Leadership cannot be claimed without results.

And credibility cannot be borrowed from a past that was never fully delivered.

APEX does not lack unity—it lacks trust.