The National Elections Commission (NEC) has sworn in the members of the state high-committees despite an internal dispute over their appointment.
In a letter dated 24 June addressed to NEC Chairperson Prof. Abednego Akok and copied to President Salva Kiir, First Vice President Riek Machar, and the vice presidents, the Commission’s Deputy Chairperson, Gabriel Gabriel Deng, said his boss’s decision to announce the appointment of the members for high committees at the state level was not in conformity with the legal and regulatory framework governing the Commission.
According to Deng, the names announced by the Chairperson for the high committees at the state level deviate from the rosters approved by the NEC for appointment.
Similarly, Nathaniel Oyet, Deputy Chairperson of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO), questioned the National Elections Commission’s capability to conduct credible elections after “unilaterally” announcing the members of the state high committees, bypassing the Commissioners’ approval.
On 17 June, NEC Chairperson Professor Abednego Akok announced the establishment of high committees in the 10 states, each consisting of a chairperson, deputy chairperson, and three committee members. He mentioned that appointments for the three administrative areas will be made gradually.
Speaking during the swearing in of the high committee members in Juba, NEC Chairperson Prof. Abednego Akok directed the officials to start voter and civic education for the people to understand their rights to votes at the state level.
“Right now, they will return to their states to implement the Election Act, starting with civic education and followed by voter registration,” he said.
Akok further said the new officials will undergo short training courses, which will enable them to have skills and knowledge to manage elections in their areas.
For his part, James Akol Zakayo, Chairperson for Political Parties Council, urged the NEC officials to renounce their allegiance to political parties to hold credible, free, and fair elections later this year.
“There is a big issue in this country that people don’t differentiate between a political affiliate and a political sympathizer. If you are a sympathizer of any political party, from today, I want you to press the new task because you are expected to be neutral, such that the results that will be given will be credible, free and fair,” said Akol.
Elections scheduled for last year were postponed to this December, but few preparations are in place.
The feasibility of the 22 December 2024 elections — the first since the country gained independence in July 2011 — is increasingly in doubt.
The original transitional period agreed to in the 2018 peace deal ended on 22 February 2023, while the extended transition period is scheduled to end on 22 February 2025.