Kiir’s presidential advisor declares independent candidacy for governorship
January 21, 2010 (JUBA) – A senior official of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and presidential advisor to the Southern Sudan president has declared himself as independent candidate for the post of governor in the upcoming April general elections.
Alfred Lado Gore, a veteran politician and advisor to President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Diplomatic Affairs on Thursday declared his intention to run for the post of governor for Central Equatoria state as an independent candidate.
Gore’s nomination was turned down last week by the party’s highest political organ, the SPLM Political Bureau, in favor of the incumbent governor Maj. General Clement Wani Konga.
He sounded confident, saying he enjoys popularity among the citizens of Central Equatoria state and criticized the Political Bureau for taking an “unpopular decision among the people” during the selection exercise.
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He further explained that he took the decision to contest independently because of “popular demand” on him among the people of Central Equatoria state.
The SPLM official said he would not leave his party but work to maintain its popularity in the state by bringing on board his supporters.
Hundreds of his supporters boarded dozens of mini buses crisscrossing the streets of Juba on Thursday, holding SPLM flags and chanting supportive slogans shortly after his declaration.
A number of government officials in the state have also openly declared their support to him against the incumbent governor and party’s recently selected official candidate for the post, Clement Wani.
Among the government officials that declared their support to the presidential advisor included the Commissioner of Juba County, Dr. Pius Subek.
Juba County headquarters also serves as both the headquarters of Central Equatoria state as well as the seat of the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS).
Gore is the first SPLM official to have publicly declared independent candidacy following the selection of candidates by the party’s Political Bureau last week.
It is however widely feared that more independent candidates mainly from the SPLM may declare and submit their candidacy applications to NEC to contest against the selected party candidates.
The chairman of the United Democratic Front (UDF) party, Peter Abdul Rahaman Sule, has also declared his intention to run for the position of governor in Central Equatoria state.
Sule on Thursday said his party is not interested to contest for the position of president at both national and Southern Sudan levels including governorship in most of the states in the region.
He denied the allegation that his party decided not to compete for the post of president because it supported Dr. Lam Akol’s candidacy for presidency in Southern Sudan.
On Tuesday the National Congress Party (NCP) leadership declared General James Loro Sirisio as its candidate for the post of governor, making four the number of contesting candidates for the post in the state.
Gen. Loro was the former governor of Central Equatoria state before the signing of the CPA and appointment of the incumbent governor. He was also the former GoSS minister for Environment, Wildlife Conservation and Tourism until 2008.
The candidates are yet to be scrutinized by NEC to make sure that they meet the requirements set by Electoral Law in order to qualify them to run for the elections.
NEC has extended to Wednesday, 27th January, the deadline for submission of applications by candidates.
(ST)