The Eastern Equatoria State government has challenged a recent petition presented to the presidency by parliamentarians and intellectuals from the state requesting the president remove Governor Louis Lobong Lojore.

The lawmakers accused the governor of corruption and of failing to provide basic services to the people of the state.

State Minister for Information Mark Akio told Radio Tamazuj that they wrote a reply to the petition and presented it to President Salva Kiir.  The state official accused the petitioners of trying to gain power.