Seedy S. K. Njie (born 16 October 1984) is a Gambian politician who currently serves as the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of the Gambia... He has held several roles in Gambian politics and has been affiliated with both the

Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction The Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC) is a political party in the Gambia. Founded by army officers who staged the 1994 coup, it was the dominant party of the Gambia from 1996 to 2016 under president Yahya Jammeh. His ...

(APRC) and later the National People's Party (NPP).

Early life and education

Njie was born on 16 October 1984 in Chamen village in the

Central River Division Central River is the largest of the five administrative divisions of the Gambia. Its capital is Janjanbureh (formerly Georgetown), on MacCarthy Island. The largest settlement is Bansang, with an estimated population in 2008 of 8,381. Until 199 ...

, and began his political career as a student leader. He began his political involvement as a student leader and rose to national prominence as the coordinator and leader of the National Patriotic Students Association (NPSA), established in 2001. The association was closely aligned with the ruling APRC party under President Yahya Jammeh.

Political career

Early roles and APRC Affiliation

In February 2007, he was appointed as a nominated member of the National Assembly by president Jammeh. He served as the APRC's spokesperson and press secretary until 2018. In January 2017, he briefly served as the Minister of Information and Communication Infrastructure following the resignation of Sheriff Bojang Sr. He later went into exile in Equatorial Guinea with

Yahya Jammeh Yahya Abdul-Aziz Jemus Junkung Jammeh (born 25 May 1965) is a Gambian politician and former soldier, who served as President of the Gambia from 1996 to 2017. He was the Chairman of the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council (AFPRC) from 1994 ...

. After returning to the Gambia, Njie contested the 2017 parliamentary election in Nianija under the APRC banner but finished fourth out of six candidates, securing only 411 votes.

Affiliation with National People's Party

Njie joined the National People's Party (NPP) and was appointed the party’s deputy spokesperson in September 2021, a position he still holds. In April 2022, he was reappointed as a nominated member of the National Assembly by President

Adama Barrow Adama Barrow (, born 15 February 1965) is a The Gambia, Gambian politician and real estate developer who has served as President of The Gambia since 2017. Born in Mankamang Kunda, a village in Jimara district, he attended Crab Island Secondary ...

. His reappointment was controversial and was condemned by the widow of Solo Sandeng and by the Centre for Human Rights Violations due to his association with the previous regime. He was later elected Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, a position he currently occupies.

Public image

Njie’s political career has generated mixed reactions. Supporters view him as a pragmatic leader capable of adapting to political shifts, while critics consider him an opportunist due to his change of allegiance from APRC to NPP.

Awards and recognitions

* Njie received the African Lawmaker of the Year 2022 award from the African Leadership Magazine during the 8th Africa Summit in London. The award acknowledged his contributions to national development and the sustenance of parliamentary democracy * He was honored with the Men of Honour Award by Nigeria's GloMay Alliance Company Limited. This award celebrates individuals who have demonstrated exemplary leadership qualities and made significant contributions in their respective fields

References

21st-century Gambian politicians National People's Party (Gambia) politicians People from Central River Division {{DEFAULTSORT:Njie, Seedy 1984 births Living people