A senior member of SPLM-IO in Northern Bahr El Ghazal state Mr. Nicholas Elias Ngong has joined the SPLM party under Salva Kiir Mayardit.
Mr. Nicholas who is the state spokesperson said he left the SPLM-IO because it is not a registered political party according to the Political Parties’ Act.
“I resigned from the SPLM IO and declared my full membership and support to the SPLM mighty party because I was born and raised as SPLM member,” he said.
Addressing the media at the state SPLM headquarters in Aweil town, the defector further claimed the SPLM-IO leadership does not have directions and clear vision and mission.
For their part, the SPLM secretary in the state Stephen Ayaga welcomed their new member to the party.
“Our party is ready to welcome many people who are willing to join as much as possible. We are the people’s choice, and we can accommodate everyone for prosperity, peace, justice and transparency,” Agaya said.
So, we are appealing to people from other political parties who are willing to join us to do it immediately. We are even expecting more members from other political parties to John us in the nearest future.”
In response, the Secretary for the SPLM-IO in NBGS Garang Wol Kon Amoi said, “Nicholas Ngong defected a month ago from us, the SPLM-IO and joined the SPLM-IG and after a day he returned to us and denied what happened.”
“So, we put him under the observation for six months as per our constitution. So up to today, he has not been a member of SPLM-IO state secretariat. Again, he was not the official spokesman of the SPLM-IO here is the state. Until when he resigned, he was a secretary for education, youth, culture and sport,” Wol said.
In the past months, Northern Bahr El Ghazal state witnessed series of defection mainly between the SPLM-IO and the SPLM.