A disciplinary committee of the National Democratic Movement (NDM) has resolved to expel and terminate the membership of two officials, a Monday statement by the party’s spokesperson, Mahmoud Akot, said.

On 21 June, the National Executive Committee (NEC) NDM 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.

Those who were suspended 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.

“Further to our statement dated 22 June 2023 on the suspension of membership of the three members who defied the revocation of their nominations to positions in the states’ governments, a disciplinary committee was instituted to investigate them as indicated in that statement. The Committee sent out summons to the three accused and they were also contacted through phone and electronic means. The Committee held meetings from 23 to 29 June 2023,” the statement read in part. “Two of the accused, Gatluak Nyang Hoth and Nyok Malual Mayik declined to appear before the Committee. Yoannes William Ojwok appeared before the Committee and was investigated.”

According to Akot, the committee handled the cases of Dr. Nyang and Malual in their absence by the Basic Rules of the NDM and found the duo guilty jointly under Articles 45 (1), 46 (2), and 46 (8), and individually under Articles 46 (3), 46 (4) and 46 (13).

"Based on the proven facts it has collected, the disciplinary committee, acting under Art 47 sec 9 of the Basic Rules 2016, imposes the following sanctions: Expulsion from the movement for both: Gatluak Nyang Hoth; and Nyok Malual Mayiik,” he said. “Sanction 2 (by majority decision): of two members of the committee against one (for suspension) agreed for expulsion from the movement o: Yoannes William Ojwk.”

“In exercise of the powers vested in him under Article 47, section 11 of the Basic Rules, the Chairman approved the decision of the Committee as follows: Gatluak Nyang Hoth is expelled from the NDM and his membership terminated,” the statement added. “Nyok Malual Mayiik is expelled from the NDM and his membership terminated; and Yoannes William Ojwok is to continue under suspension of membership until he redeems the disobedience by resigning from his government position within seventy-two (72) hours from the date he is informed by the Committee, whereupon the suspension will be lifted.”

According to Akot, in the event Ojwok fails to comply within the specified period, he shall be expelled from the NDM and his membership terminated.

“The Committee informed Yoannes William Ojwok in writing on 1 July 2023 to appear before the Committee at 10:00 am on Monday 3 July 2023 to announce the verdict to him. He failed to appear up to noon,” the statement concluded. “Thereupon, the Committee acting under Article 47 (10) decided to make the decision public. The time given him to redeem the disobedience commences at 10:00 am on Monday 3 July 2023.”

When contacted about their expulsion from NDM, Mayendit County Commissioner Dr. Gatluak Nyang rubbished it and said he is still the serving commissioner, sits on several party organs, and that the process of booting them from the party was illegal.

“I heard about our expulsion but the Movement does not belong to Dr. Lam Akol but to the people and is ours.  There are structures and organs in the NDM and we are the ones who chose Dr. Akol as a leader. All decisions have to adhere to the rules and structures of the NDM,” he said. “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.”

According to Dr. Nyang, the highest organ of the NDM is the National Congress which makes decisions that are then implemented by National Leadership Council (NLC) and other party organs.

“So, the NDM’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting had no powers to even suspend us for refusing to resign because I am deployed outside of NDM and only the people where I work can be the ones to judge and say I am not doing a good job and we need him replaced. Then there would have been a problem. The suspension and expulsion did not adhere to the party’s basic rules,” he said. “How then can one person sit alone in Juba and suspend and expel people and tell the spokesperson to announce it? So, it is not right and no one can deny someone’s membership of the party. Dr. Lam Akol is even operating from outside of the Movement and away from the country.”

“The NDM cannot stop us from working because their move is illegal and they did not follow the party’s due legal processes and no one can expel me from the NDM because I did not break any rules and I sit in the structures of the party,” Dr. Nyang added.