The resignations, announced on July 23, come just days before July 25, when President Faye is expected to unveil the name of his new political party at a founding assembly in Dakar. Several officials of the Senegalese Patriotic Youth, including Bakary Bass Sakho and Ousmane Sonko Jr, have also left the party. Meanwhile, Lansana Gagny Sakho, Chairman of the Board of the investment promotion agency APIX and a PASTEF executive, publicly declared his support for President Faye without resigning from the party. The defections follow months of political tension between President Faye and his former ally Ousmane Sonko. Despite the resignations, PASTEF has downplayed the developments and says it is continuing a nationwide membership drive aimed at recruiting one million members.