In a decisive move, the High Authority for Party Regulation (HARP) of PASTEF-Les Patriotes has issued its provisional decision regarding presidential candidacy submissions for the upcoming party elections. The authority, led by Mouhamadou Ngouda Mboup, has validated only one application—the incumbent president, Ousmane Sonko—while all others were deemed inadmissible due to administrative and statutory discrepancies.
This announcement, outlined in decision number 002/2026/HARP, follows a meticulous review of all submissions received before the May 20, 2026 deadline. The HARP’s thorough examination uncovered widespread irregularities among the competing dossiers, ultimately rejecting seven other candidacies on various grounds.
Key reasons behind the rejections
The HARP’s report highlights several critical issues that led to the disqualification of the rejected candidates. For Alassane Sow and El Hadji Moussa Gueye, the primary obstacle was their failure to meet financial obligations, specifically unpaid membership dues—a violation of Article 16 of the party’s internal regulations.
Other candidacies fell short due to missing or incomplete documentation. Lat Grant Dione’s application was dismissed for lacking the mandatory declaration addressed to the HARP president. Meanwhile, Pape Alioune Badara Gueye and El Hadji Madior Diop were disqualified after failing to provide the reverse side of their National Identity Cards or membership cards.
The case of El Hadji Leyty Thiam took an unusual turn when he formally withdrew his candidacy in writing, citing his support for Ousmane Sonko’s bid. This decision, documented before a notary and HARP members, rendered his submission void.
Deadline for appeals and final decision
The HARP’s June 21, 2026 session, attended by president Mouhamadou Ngouda Mboup and members Fatimata Sira Sarr, Mamadou Salif Sané, and Baye Niasse, marked the official opening of the appeals process. According to Article 3 of the decision, candidates have until 5:00 PM on May 22, 2026 to submit formal complaints. Following this window, any unresolved disputes will be resolved, and the final list of presidential hopefuls will be sealed.
