WBeG MPs sign vote of no confidence against speaker
January 28, 2015 (WAU) – Twenty-nine members of Western Bahr el Ghazal state’s legislative assembly signed a vote of no confidence on Tuesday against the incumbent speaker, Andrea Mayar Acho.
The motion was put forward by Abraham Dimo Cirillo, who represents the constituency of Mapel/Alur payam (district).
Cirillo told Sudan Tribune he made the motion in response to the speaker’s repeated absences, which had made it difficult to pass bills.
“His absences from the assembly contributed to the low performance of the assembly,” he said on Wednesday.
The document, seen by Sudan Tribune, cites Article 65 (1) of the state’s 2011 transitional constitution, which gives MPs powers to elect and remove their leaders within the assembly supported by Article 90 of the conduct of business regulations of the assembly.
According to Article 90 (IV), the motion for removal of the speaker or deputy speaker shall be listed for debate within 14 days after receipt of the notice.
MPs have complained that Acho spent months at a time in his village instead of working from his office in the capital, Wau.
Cirillo said the speaker’s long absences had led to a leadership vacuum in the assembly and had created disunity among legislature members and the executive
“He [has] chosen to remain at home while his work needs him to be in the office,” said Cirillo.
“Acho used to undermine the national issues since he stayed at his home without knowing the daily affairs of the government and when he came back to the town he worked contrarily,” he added.
Acho has also been accused of waiving the immunity of some MPs without approval from the assembly in violation of the state’s 2011 transitional constitution.
Cirillo said Western Bahr el Ghazal needed a strong speaker that can with MPs ahead of planned national elections in April to deliver on the needs of local citizens.
Ongoing tensions among the assembly has also delayed the passing of state governor Rizik Zackaria Hassan’s new cabinet.
Hassan presented his new cabinet line up before parliament last week, urging MPs to pass the cabinet so that the state government could proceed with its usual business.
Tensions were also running high on Wednesday morning after Acho assumed post accompanied by security guards.
A scheduled sitting to pass the cabinet was subsequently postponed on Wednesday amid fears of further tension among assembly members.
Meanwhile, some MPs have called for the deployment of security personnel at the assembly, urging the speaker to attend only as an ordinary MP.
Attempts by Sudan Tribune to reach Acho for comment were unsuccessful.
(ST)