The Unity State Youth Union on Friday elected Nyandin Lual Gai unopposed as the body’s new chairperson after three male candidates stepped down in her favor.
79 youth delegates from all the seven counties of the state cast their ballots according to the steering committee.
The South Sudan National Youth Union (SSNYU) secretary-general, Justin Urio Ajongo, told Radio Tamazuj Friday that he declared Nyandin Lual Gai as the winner after the three male contestants stepped down.
“The election was free, fair, and very peaceful and it is the first time for us to witness such an event because the rest of the candidates stepped down and the only candidate who remained with her was Taker Riak, who also stepped down in the final stages in favor of Nyandin,” Ajongo said. “They told the people that they want to give chance to a female so that they can exercise their capability and capacity to provide services to the people and Nyandin was declared by the electoral board as a winner without opponents.”
Lual said her plan is to unite the youth in towns, remote areas, and cattle camps with the aim of promoting peace and reconciliation.
“My primary objective is to unite youth; those in the town, remote areas land in the cattle camps so that they have unity, peace, and reconciliation among themselves,’’ Lual said in a statement shortly after she was declared the new chairperson.
Taker Riak who stepped down in the middle of the elections on Friday said he withdrew his candidacy to support the only female candidate.
“Two candidates were remaining, I and the lady, and I decided to withdraw my candidacy and ally with her and she was declared unopposed,” Riak said. “All of us have been campaigning all along and it happened that I decided to withdraw my candidacy today (Friday).”