W. Equatoria alleges electoral fraud as the state awaits landmark results

April 20, 2010 (YAMBIO, Western Equatoria) – Five days after polls were closed in Western Equatoria, oppositions sources have alleged that, there are plots to rig the April polls special the gubernatorial results.

As tensions in the lead up to Sunday’s poll escalate. Supporters of Independent Candidate Col Bakosoro claimed that, supporters of Jemma Nunu, the election underdog, are organizing vote-rigging in the Greater Mundri region, in the State’s eastern part, the SPLM gubernatorial less power base.

State Minister of Education Babur Majur is alleged to be bringing another separate result from Yeri of Mvolo County in Eastern part of W. Equatoria few miles from Mundri County – the minister who comes from Mvolo has been in the region since day of elections. The results, alleged in possession of Majur is said to benefit the SPLM incumbent who is in cliff of losing as she short by more than ten thousands votes.

Mr. Babur, former teacher and former NCP Secretary general in Khartoum, was first appointed as Security Advisor in 2005 by WES’s post CPA former Governor Brig Patrick Zamoi, the appointment persuaded him to join SPLM, he became to prominence again when the current caretaker governor appointed him as State Minister of Education, the embattled minister came to limelight again when he fired thousands of Secondary and Primary school teachers and cut their gross salary by 20%, a move which saw students’ demonstrating and teachers’ strike.

Sources from SPLM operations room in WES say, SPLM candidates who competed for legislative elections are set to win by 98%, however, SPLM candidate for governorship has suffered heavy defeat, herself, the caretaker governor is reported to be making all possibly efforts to change the results that have given lead to her main rival Col Bakosoro, who contested as an Independent.

The apparent delays of ballot papers in Yangiri and Yeri payams seem to be paving way for massive rigging, as the governor dispatched agents there with hope of changing the results in favor of her bid to stay put and maintain the status quo.

The allegations of fraud come after Col Joseph Bakosoro showed a big lead in a partial vote count released earlier this week by party agents.

Bakosoro leads the race with five out of 10 counties; the SPLM gubernatorial candidate is far behind, struggling in five counties too.

The State High Elections Committee (SHEC) said that there was no evidence to back up the allegations.

The fraud allegations are the latest in a series of problems plaguing the elections’ results in Western Equatoria.

On Monday, SHEC was reported to have attended a private meeting with allies of Jemma Nunu Kumba, WES’s incumbent governor.

In related news, leader of SHEC Mr. Lawrence Sulubia said, “there is no way the State High Committee can accept any result now apart from the ones which were displayed outside poling centers”.

He added that, all ballot papers (BP) have been received by SHEC in Yambio, with the exception of Yangiri Payam in Ezo County and Yeri Payam in Mvolo County. “On Wednesday UNMIS chopper (Helicopter) will collect and deliver the Ballot papers to SHEC HQs.

SHEC blames poor road infrastructures, for having contributed to the delay of ballot papers to be collected from the aforementioned remote areas.

Independent candidate campaign teams who are closely monitoring the movement of the ballot papers say, they fear, the incumbent governor might use trick to fabricate results.

Independent gubernatorial candidate is widely expected to win, random exit poll show.

Sulubia admitted issues of intimidation and malpractices in Maridi during voting days, “we have received complains and reports of irregularities in Maridi, we are verifying all the forms that came from Maridi, whether they were signed by all party agents, 11 parties took part WES elections. (Our) officials from Maridi are now in Yambio we are going to hear from them and investigation will continue thereafter.”

International and local observers documented heavy presence of security forces in all polling centers in Maridi, paving way for massive intimidation and fraudulent results.

Sulubia who assured the general public of announcing results based on how many votes scored by a candidate, said, “(I) will never accept stealing and God is his witness.”

PROVINCIAL RESULTS

Confidently, Sulubia said, data entry of the announced results began on Monday, two committees were formed to undertake the complex take, one is charged with the responsibility of computerizing and another to manually record the displayed result – he said the manual data entry is in consistence with the computerized one as a backup in case a break of computer.

Sulubia confirmed that, “On Sunday April 25, 2010, SHEC will announce provincial result based on the actual results, however, National Elections shall announce the final result.” He did not indicate what date national elections will announce the final results.

The widely anticipated election result in W. Equatoria, is giving hard time to the civilians, living within heavy deployment of SPLA forces in around Yambio town.

Since day 1 elections counting in Yambio State authorities have ordered closure of shops, imposed night curfew (9PM to 7AM), between 16 and 18 of April gathering of five people were banned within Yambio town, movement of pedestrians, private vehicles and motorcycles were banned, and all major roads inside and outside Yambio are under siege by SPLA forces – no vehicle is allowed to go outside Yambio and enter to Yambio.

Security arrangements have caused shortages of basic good services, including the scarcity of scratch card (airtime cards) for all the mobile operators in Yambio, as road transport is the only means of getting goods to Yambio.

(ST)