An SPLM-IO-appointed county commissioner, who was suspended from the party today, has defected to the ruling SPLM.
Maban County Commissioner Peter Alberto announced his shift from the party led by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar to the one led by President Salva Kiir on Monday.
He had been suspended as the Commissioner of Maban County by Upper Nile State Governor James Odhok Oyay this afternoon.
“In the exercise of the power conferred upon me under Article 99(2) of the Transitional Constitution of Upper Nile State 2011 and in reference to Republican Decree No. 1/11/2023 dated January 26, 2023, I, H.E. James Odhok Oyay, Governor of Upper Nile State, do hereby issue Gubernatorial Order No. 38/2024 for the suspension of Hon. Peter Alberto Maben, Commissioner of Maban County, Upper Nile State,” the order read in part.
On September 10, angry protesters staged demonstrations in Bunj in Maban County, demanding the immediate ouster of Alberto.
The protesters accused the commissioner of mismanagement and malpractices in the county.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj this afternoon, Alberto said he had decided to join SPLM after being suspended by the State Governor.
“I have preempted the decision of the governor because I cannot work with him,” he said.
“He is someone who does not know the channel of communication. I better go back to SPLM, and I am now a full member of SPLM,” he added.
The former commissioner accused the governor of using divisive politics and said: “I cannot accept humiliation, and as a legal practitioner, I want things to be done institutionally.”
Governor Oyay could not immediately be reached for comment.