USSP calls for stronger election security and special court for disputes
The United South Sudan Party has called on the National Election Commission to strengthen election security, protect candidates and establish a special court to handle election-related disputes ahead of the planned December polls.
The party also wants restrictions on politicians’ movements lifted, political rallies allowed without unnecessary interference and public funding released to registered political parties.
It further called for improved access to polling centres for people with disabilities, older people and those who are ill.
Speaking after submitting a letter to the Commission, USSP chairman and former Central Equatoria State Deputy Governor Paulino Lukudu Obede urged the Commission and the caretaker government to speed up election preparations.
“We welcome the commitment and the progress of work done by the National Election Commission and we also brought some inquiries related to the election security, matters related to political parties funding, the dispute resolution, accessibility to the polling centres and many other things in which we were answered, satisfied with the report from the National Election Commission,” he said.
“And as a stakeholder of this important institution we also need to request the government to keep funding the National Election Commission so that we will have this election on its time,” he said.
“The people are waiting for this election and we cannot wait any longer than the time that we have waited. The USSP is fully willing to participate in the coming election in all levels of the government to see that we have to move the country to democratic transition, peaceful politics and inclusive for every South Sudanese,” he added.
In response, National Election Commission Chairperson Gabriel Bol Deng said the Commission remains committed to ensuring a fair, transparent and inclusive electoral process in line with the National Election Act and transitional provisions.
“NEC is welcoming them (USSP) to share their concerns. Because the National Election Commission is like a referee, our goal is to prepare the playground to make sure the laws are fair and transparent according to our National Election Act and the transitional provisions,” he assured.
“We had honest and frank discussions about his concerns, which we have addressed, and we look forward to more meetings to come so that we can work together collaboratively so that when December 22nd comes, the process will be inclusive and it is done. The political parties’ leaders, MPs, governors are speaking to the heart and mind of our citizens,” he added.
However, USSP says key preparations for the planned December elections remain unresolved, including voter registration, the official campaign period and constituency boundaries.
