SPLM would welcome back independent candidates – Amum
By Ngor Arol Garang
April 28, 2010 (WUNROK) — Pagan Amum, Secretary General of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, said Wednesday said his party would consider welcoming back former members of the party, who failed to secure endorsement of their candidatures as official nominees by political bureau, making them go to the polls independently.
“It will be a requirement and all would need to indicate on their applications reasons for leaving and why seeking return,” Amum said adding members at the leadership council will then convene to follow all procedures involved in application before returning membership to former members of the party.
In January 2010, over 340 political candidates who had initially sought going to the poll as official nominees of the SPLM, contested independently after failing to secure endorsement of their candidatures by the SPLM Political Bureau, the highest organ in the party hierarchy set up.
The political bureau disowned their memberships and banned them from using party logs and symbols of the party. The resolution did not stop them from going to the poll.
7 strong candidates of whom, two members were women in the name of Agelina Teny and Sarah Nyannath took decision to contest gubernatorial position independently.
Nyannath contested against Simon Kun, SPLM official nominee in the state of Upper Nile while Agelina Teny went to the poll against SPLM official nominee, Brigadier General, Taban Deng Gai for unity State gubernatorial post.
Males in the race included name of General George Athor Deng in Jonglei, General Dau Aturjong Nyuol in Northern Bahr el Ghazal, General Alfred Ladu Gore in Central Equatoria State, Ex-Eastern Equatoria State Governor, Brigadier General, Alessio Ojetuk and Colonel Bangasi Joseph Bakosoro in Western Equatoria went to the polls independently for gubernatorial posts.
Throughout campaign period, they all kept and appeared more popular than official nominees. While in the polls, preliminary results shows they were in the lead against their rivals. However, their rivals picked it up during additional two days meant for compensation of confusions, delays, misplacement of voter names on voter registries.
These additional two days saw reports and accusations of harassment, threats, intimidations, expulsion, physical abuse and arrest of agents representing political contenders at polling stations.
On Monday 26, national elections commission announced executive results making Colonel Bangasi Joseph Bakosoro emerging as one of the ten southern states governors who entered gubernatorial office as independent candidate.
Reacting to the SPLM decision to allow back independent candidates, Garang Aguer Kuol, SPLM member at Kuajok, Warrap State capital, lauded decision taken by the SPLM leadership saying it is wise and encouraging indeed. “It is important because need more unity than division this time among members of the SPLM and entire southern Sudanese people for successful conduct of referendum,” Garang said.
(ST)
murlescrewed
SPLM would welcome back independent candidates – Amum
CDE Amum,
It is important to admit back some of the independent candidates as long as they abide by the party’s rules. Some of the independent candidates are real patriots compared to moles traitors who shook our confidence in the SPLM by making dumb decisions. SPLM must return to its former roots and enforce strong internal cohesiveness. Otherwise, it will not stand up to Bashir’s NCP during the crucial period leading up to the referendum exercise.
Also, SPLM must put everything on the table for negotiation including exploring whether confederal arrangement can be worked out. Also, transitional states along the border should be asked to decide whether they want to join South or North.
parajok
SPLM would welcome back independent candidates – Amum
Dictator, Dictator;
Salfa Kir; Whenever men take the law into their own hands, the loser is the law. And when the law loses, freedom languishes. I hope you donot learned from Nuer on what a loser do to a winner, HOOP, hold your breathe don not be happy yet.
Parajo
babadit
SPLM would welcome back independent candidates – Amum
RIGHT DECISION
Time for campaign had gone, let’s focuss on the referandom now and make our systems more united than ever
Dekery
SPLM would welcome back independent candidates – Amum
WHAT????????WHY??????
The independent candidates are rotten onion which should not be mixed up with the fresh one otherwise, they are power hungry guys who never focus for the future vision of SPLM specially Afred Lado Gore.
Cheers from Yambio
Dekery far away”
Wiyual Wech Puk D. Payol.
SPLM would welcome back independent candidates – Amum
Thanks to SPLM members for taking decision of wlcoming back the loss members who compete independently.
Manyang
SPLM would welcome back independent candidates – Amum
Mr Pagan Amum, you are wishing something impossible. I don’t think wether the expelled independent candidates will rejoin the SPLM. If these independents were true patriots they will form a genuine opposition party in South. The SPLM electoral colledge rigged the nomination in favour of their chosen candidates against the will of the masses. SPLM could have given chance to its aspiring candidates for different positions to contest against each other in the primaries.