Salva Chol Ayat, acting governor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal on Wednesday refused to swear in an appointed advisor, citing illegitimacy of the appointment because of the impeachment of the caretaker governor by parliament.

The advisor, however, says that she was appointed before the impeachment vote in parliament and therefore her appointment should be considered as still valid.

Mary Ayat was appointed by the caretaker governor, Kuel Aguer Kuel as advisor for education before a section of the state parliament passed a resolution withdrawing confidence from the caretaker, accusing him of corruption and insubordination to party leaders.

“They rejected that I should be sworn in because I was appointed by the caretaker governor. But I was appointed before this situation. I should have been sworn in together with my colleagues but it was delayed due to other commitments,” Ayat said Wednesday.

“This is something I do not understand,” she added.