Authorities in Gogrial said Friday they have completed selection of additional local members of parliament to nominate to Salva Kiir for appointment to the new parliament.
Gogrial is one of the 28 states that President Salva Kiir is trying to create by decree in spite of court challenges by opposition and claims by the armed opposition that the move violates the peace agreement.
Kiir’s 28 states replace the 10 constitutionally recognized states and they will have appointed rather than elected state parliaments. Former Warrap State parliamentarians hailing from the area will automatically be included in the list of nominees for appointment by Kiir.
Gogrial State caretaker information minister Ariec Mayar Ariec said five (5) additional members have already been selected to complete a required total number of 21 members to make up the local parliament.
Ariec said he expects the members will be appointed within the coming days to join their colleagues in the legislature which he said is already capable of making a quorum for the first sitting of the assembly to elect a new speaker and oversee government functions.
“There are already 16 members. This has reached the quorum for a normal sitting. The quorum is 10 plus 1. This is already enough for the members to convene and hold a first session to elect the speaker, the deputy speaker and other officers,” said Ariec.
The legislator did not say when the speaker and the deputy would be appointed but said he expects the governor will soon travel to Juba for consultations with the leadership, including the president, to seek guidance and approval of new officials into the cabinet and the legislature.