South Sudan’s supreme court rules on delayed polls petition

April 27, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s supreme court has thrown out a petition filed by an alliance of 18 opposition political parties to delay the 2015 polls, which was cancelled.

According to Madut, South Sudan’s National Election Commission (NEC) announced cancellation of this year’s polls after parliament extended president Salva Kiir’s term in office for three more years.

“It is there irrelevant to continue with the case in the court when there is no any election processes right now,” said Justice Madut.

In February this year, the 18 opposition political parties filed the election petition so as to counter NEC’s pronouncement to conduct general elections on ground that those polls will be inconclusive as conflict rages on in three of the country’s 10 states.

However, the court hearing was delayed till parliament debated and approved request by the government to extend its mandate.

Last month, NEC cancelled the elections initially planned for mid-this year until 2018 when the term of the incumbent president and the country’s lawmakers expire.

(ST)