Ousmane Sonko, leader of the Pastef party, has strongly condemned the opposition’s decision to refer the matter of his reinstatement as a deputy to the Constitutional Council. In a scathing statement, he described the move as a calculated political maneuver aimed at derailing his parliamentary career.
Opposition’s tactics branded as orchestrated scheme
Speaking to reporters, Sonko accused unnamed figures within the opposition of engaging in what he called “systematic political scheming”. He argued that the constitutional challenge was both misguided and legally flawed, asserting that the opposition was fully aware their case lacked merit.
“This action is nothing short of a political conspiracy,” Sonko declared. “They are weaponizing state institutions, but we will not stand idle. If they insist on using the machinery of government against us, we will deploy every constitutional means at our disposal to defend our rights.”
Constitutional Council challenged over parliamentary reinstatement
The dispute centers on a recent decision by the National Assembly’s Bureau to reinstate Sonko as a deputy. Opposition lawmakers and independents formally filed a complaint with the Constitutional Council, arguing that his reinstatement violated constitutional provisions.
At the heart of their claim is Article 54, which prohibits individuals from holding certain public offices simultaneously with a parliamentary mandate. The opposition contends that Sonko, who served as Prime Minister before his 2024 election as a deputy, was ineligible from the moment he won his seat.
Sonko has dismissed these assertions as baseless, insisting that the reinstatement was both legal and procedurally sound. His party, Pastef, has vowed to challenge any attempt to undermine his mandate, framing the opposition’s actions as an abuse of legal processes for political ends.
