Warrap state seeks extension of gubernatorial term amid opposition
June 15 (JUBA) – Warrap state government in South Sudan has presented a request seeking parliamentary approval to extend the term of governor Nyandeng Malek, one month after her term in office expired in May, leaving the state in limbo.
Minister Acuil, according to his request, copy of which Sudan Tribune has seen, cited article 72 of the state model transitional constitution as the basis of requesting for extension of the term of the governor.
Acting chairperson of parliamentary committee responsible for public relations information and communications, Ariech Mayar Ariech, confirmed in a separate interview receipt of the request, but said there were faults in the procedure.
“The representative of the governor has presented the request and urged the members of parliament to pass the amendments under article 72 (1) of the model state transitional constitution, which is wrong. It is the article used for adoption of minor resolutions. The correct article [which] tackles any amendments in Warrap state transitional constitution is article 55 (1), which requires two-third majority of all members to the amendment and passing,” Ariech told Sudan Tribune on Sunday.
The legislator said the citing of a wrong article indicated bad intention on the side of the executive in collaboration with speaker of the house to use wrong approach in order to rig parliamentary procedures.
Any amendments to the constitution, according to Ariech, should be done after spending a period of one month after the request has been submitted to the parliament in order to allow members ample time to carry out proper studies and examine rationality of the request and whether it meets the public interest
“There is bad intention in submitting this request with a strong call on the members to pass it. In our constitution, any request seeking amendment to the constitution should stay at least for one month. But now they are asking for the passage before the completion of the period permitted by the constitution,” he said, accusing the speaker of working with the executive to rig the process.
“The way they are doing it shows that they want to bribe some members of parliament and if they fail to bribe some of us, then they will resort to rigging the process and the procedures,” he said.
He said the state executive wanted to do the procedure in the same way the national transitional constitution was passed in 2011 spearheaded by former justice minister John Luk Jok who rushed and wrote a bad constitution.
(ST)