The regulatory body of PASTEF-Les Patriotes, the Haute Autorité de Régulation du Parti (HARP), has released its provisional list of presidential candidates for the party’s upcoming election. After meticulously reviewing all submission files submitted before the May 20, 2026 deadline, the oversight committee led by Mouhamadou Ngouda Mboup approved only one valid candidacy: that of incumbent president Ousmane Sonko. All other applications were deemed inadmissible due to administrative and statutory deficiencies.
Why seven candidacies were rejected by PASTEF’s regulatory body
In its official notice, the HARP outlined clear reasons for rejecting the seven other applications. For candidates Alassane Sow and El Hadji Moussa Gueye, non-payment of membership dues—violating article 16 of the party’s internal regulations—rendered their submissions irreparable. Other rejections stemmed from critical omissions or procedural errors. Lat Grant Dione’s file lacked the mandatory declaration addressed to the HARP president, while Pape Alioune Badara Gueye and El Hadji Madior Diop submitted incomplete identification documents, missing the reverse side of their national ID or membership cards. Meanwhile, El Hadji Leyty Thiam withdrew his candidacy in writing, declaring his support for Ousmane Sonko through a notarized statement.
Window for appeals opens before final candidate list
The special session held on May 21, 2026, chaired by Mouhamadou Ngouda Mboup and attended by members Fatimata Sira Sarr, Mamadou Salif Sané, and Baye Niasse, marks the official start of the appeals process. According to HARP’s decision, any candidate may submit a formal complaint by May 22, 2026, at 5:00 PM. Once this deadline passes and any disputes are resolved, the final list of presidential candidates for PASTEF will be locked in place.