The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the National Democratic Movement (NDM) in its meeting on 21 June 2023 resolved to suspend the membership of three of its members who were nominated by the party over two years ago to occupy government positions in the States.
The suspended members are Mayendit County Commissioner Dr. Gatluak Nyang Hoth, Pigi County Commissioner Nyok Malual Mayiik, and the Chairman of the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) in Upper Nile State, Yoannes William Ojwok.
According to the Wednesday press statement, the party had earlier revoked their nominations to those positions and directed them to tender their resignations but they refused to comply.
“In the same meeting, the NEC further decided to subject them to disciplinary measures. A committee has been formed to investigate them for violating the provisions of the Basic Rules of the NDM, 2016 (as amended),” the statement said. “It is worth noting that the NDM had written to the appointing authority as per R-ARCSS revoking their nominations and requesting the appointment of replacements on 29 May 2022, 8 September 2022, and 6 June 2023, respectively, for Gatluak, Nyok, and Yoannes.”
“No orders relieving them from office have been issued up to the time of writing and therefore, they were ordered by NEC on 11 and 12 June 2023 to resign by the 21 June at the latest but they defied this order,” the NDM statement added.
According to NDM, the same body that recommends appointment reserves the full right to revoke that recommendation whenever it sees fit.
However, when contacted, Mayendit County Commissioner Dr. Gatluak Nyang Hoth rubbished the suspension and said it is fake and had no legal basis.
“I have not received the letter but it cannot be true and it has no merits because the chairman of NDM (Dr. Lam Akol) cannot administer the party from outside the country where he has been since the revitalized peace agreement was negotiated,” he charged. “First of all, it is against the constitution of the NDM because only the National Leadership Council (NLC) and General Assembly can determine the suspension and or fate of a party member and decide on contentious party issues.”
“So, what has been done is baseless because no one can suspend me apart from the NLC and the party’s General Assembly,” Dr. Nyang added.
He said he will continue serving as the commissioner of Mayendit County until the party holds a meeting soon in Juba to chart the way forward.