South Sudan’s Supreme Court has admitted a petition filed by opposition political parties that challenges the constitutionality of the proposed national elections.
The parties, led by SPLM-DC, want to block the National Electoral Commission (NEC) from holding a vote scheduled for 30 June 2015, saying that elections cannot be held without a census.
The court gave the NEC until 3 March to file its defence, UN Radio Miraya reported.
Agok Makur, an advocate representing the political parties, said: “This today it marks a great advancement and achievement attributed to the Supreme Court that the Supreme Court was abide by its ethics and it was able to admit and accept to look into the issue in question or suit from the SPLM-DC and others today they have accepted the suit and the date has been fixed for the next sittings in this court of court.”
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Case brought against holding South Sudan elections (23 Jan.)
File photo: Chief Justice Chan Reec Madut