The leadership of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO) in Eastern Equatoria State has rejected claims that about 100 members defected alongside former state party leader and former deputy governor Karlo Andrew Akwo to the SPLM Party.
During a press conference in Torit on Friday, 23 October, the SPLM-IO acting chairperson, Jildo Abala Remy, described the reported defection as an individual decision rather than a collective move by the party’s membership across the state.
The press statement followed reports of Akwo’s defection to the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) in government.
According to Abala, the SPLM-IO continues to operate across Eastern Equatoria’s eight counties. He reaffirmed the party’s commitment to peace, political dialogue and national development.
He also appealed to President Salva Kiir Mayardit to pardon all political detainees, regardless of their political affiliation, and to call an inclusive dialogue of all political stakeholders.
Asked whether they are ready for the elections slated for December, Abala said the SPLM-IO was fully prepared and was organizing its members ahead of the polls.
For her part, Imoya Christine Lopwodo of the SPLM-IO and member of the Eastern Equatoria Human Rights Commission, also disputed the reported number of defectors, claiming that Akwo left with only three members rather than the approximately 100 cited in reports.
Lopwodo, who announced her intention to contest for a seat in the Eastern Equatoria State Parliament to represent Ikotos County on the SPLM-IO ticket, said the party remained committed to participating in the elections.
She described the reported figure of 100 defectors as inaccurate and urged the former party leader not to misrepresent the status of the opposition movement in the state.
Meanwhile, Ochola Bosco Oringa, a former SPLM-IO minister of agriculture in Eastern Equatoria, said the defection was a personal decision and did not represent the position of the entire party.
He acknowledged that Akwo’s departure could raise questions about the party’s future but maintained that its structures remained operational.
He said the SPLM-IO continued to mobilize supporters across the state’s eight counties and was updating its membership records in preparation for forthcoming party activities and elections.
The acting chairperson also urged political leaders, party members and the public to avoid inflammatory statements and respect the right of every South Sudanese citizen to choose a political affiliation freely.
The statement further called on the caretaker government of Eastern Equatoria, under General Louis Lobong Lojore, to continue working with the SPLM-IO leadership to promote peace and stability in the state.
South Sudan is expected to hold national elections in December 2026, although preparations and political activities continue amid ongoing debates over the readiness of political parties and the implementation of the peace agreement.
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