NBGS: Ex- energy minister protests upcoming poll results in favor of SPLM

By Ngor Arol Garang

April 20, 2010 (WUNROK) – Former minister of energy and industry in the regional government of Southern Sudan, Retired Major General, Albino Akol Akol of UDSF-M, has broken his silence protesting upcoming results of the recently concluded poll in Northern Bahr el Ghazal.

General Akol who has held many ministerial and advisory positions in different governments at different times said speculations that I have lost elections which did not see my participation should hold and those using defeat should think of another word.

They better find another term to use instead of using winning and defeat which have their source being competition and should not be misused; he said adding that he did not compete with anyone in his constituency.

The General, who spoke to Sudan Tribune by phone, from his home state of Northern Bahr el Ghazal in Aweil town, also denied conduct of free and fair elections. There were no elections in Northern Bahr el Ghazal, he said.

“I saw no elections conducted in the area particularly in my constituency. No elections were conducted at all,” he said adding “if there are people who told you there were elections in Northern Bahr el Ghazal; let them also tell you what happened. For me, I am not aware of any elections conducted in Aweil,” he reiterates.

However, Tong Mawien, an agent of the angered politicians said he was expelled at Maduany polling station several times notwithstanding attempts to resist. “I was forcefully removed from the poll, beaten and thrown into the prison where I stayed till Thursday 15 April 20, 2010 after elections.”

“Other colleagues representing general Akoldit were also expelled hence made it possible for those who had wanted to serve as his agents changed their minds in order to avoid being harassed publicly as it happened to me and some of the colleagues,” he said.

The veteran politician who sounded unhappy during an interview was contesting parliamentary seat for Juba based parliament in constituency number 07 with an SPLM official candidate in the name Simon Deng Duang.

Duang, with the backing of the force behind his initial nomination, is said to have taken the seat from General Albino Akol Akol and two other independent candidates in the name of Joseph Bak Ruonrac and Simon Mawien Uguek.

Other candidates in the name of Peter Majok Angui from USAP and John Orelio Anyuon of UDF have also seen taking of the parliamentary seat away from them by an SPLM candidate in the name of Joseph Akok Akol in constituency number 26.

Incumbent minister of information and communications, in the state government, Baak Lual Bol of constituency number 02 and Andrew Lual Buola of constituency number 20, have also been speculated to have take parliamentary seats for State Legislative Assembly.

Both Baak Luak Bol and Andrew Lual Buola are SPLM official nominees and were contesting parliamentary seats to the state parliament based in Aweil with candidates from other political parties and independents.

(ST)