A Lou Nuer paramount chief in Uror County, Jonglei State, has petitioned the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) leadership to review Rachel Nyadak Paul’s eligibility for the party’s governorship ticket, citing her marital and family connections to Gogrial East County in neighbouring Warrap State.
In a letter dated November 9 and addressed to SPLM Secretary-General Akol Paul Kordit, Chief Sultan Kuon Chothual Chan said he was raising the concerns on behalf of members of the community and in his capacity as a Lou Nuer paramount chief.
The chief questioned whether Nyadak meets the necessary requirements to contest for the governorship of Jonglei, given her reported family and marital ties to Warrap State.
However, he acknowledged that marriage or family connections outside Jonglei do not automatically disqualify a candidate from contesting for the state’s top political position.
Instead, he urged the SPLM leadership to establish whether Nyadak meets the applicable legal requirements, particularly regarding eligibility, voter registration and residency.
Nyadak, a former presidential adviser, is the only woman among those contesting for the SPLM governorship flag bearer position in Jonglei State.
Her candidacy comes ahead of the party’s state-level primaries, where members of the Jonglei State Liberation Council are expected next week to elect the SPLM flag bearer for the governorship ahead of the upcoming general elections.
The petition places Nyadak’s eligibility under scrutiny as the ruling party prepares to select its candidate for Jonglei’s governorship.
It remains for the SPLM leadership to examine the concerns raised in the petition and determine whether the candidate fulfils the applicable requirements.
