It’s possible to hold elections within five months: OPP

By Awan Achiek

A leading member of the Other Political Parties (OPP) coalition, Kornelio Kon Ngu has expressed hope of holding elections within the remaining five months.

“We got direction from the National Elections Commission that within a few months left elections are possible to take place, but this requires our collective efforts as members of parliament and citizens of South Sudan,” Kon said after meeting Prof. Abednego Akok Kacuol, the Chairperson of the National Election Commission (NEC) on Monday in Juba.

Kon who doubles as the Deputy Speaker of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) called for speeding up the drafting of electoral laws before the poll is held in December.

“Nobody should say the time has elapsed, there is enough time and elections will take place as scheduled within the remaining few months as long as there is political will from the politicians,” he said.

He said political parties have agreed to hold presidential and gubernatorial elections

“We have agreed as political parties to have two ballot papers, one for presidential and another one for governors and this will happen within the remaining few months,” Kon said.

Prof. Abednego Akok Kacuol, Chairperson of NEC called for amendment of the National Elections Act 2012 (Amendment) Bill 2023.

“The elections will not happen unless it is amended because it says that registration is 60 days and campaigns is 70 days and then polling, so this one will take us eight months which we can’t do unless the political parties are to extend it and not me,” Akok said.

The National Elections Commission announced earlier that voting will take place on 22 December 2024.