By Yiep Joseph
Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO has claimed full support in Western Bahr El Ghazal (WBGs), registering thousands of members in recent months.
WBGs Deputy Chairperson for SPLM-IO, Valentino Akech boasted of the party registering over 300, 000 members, though No. 1 Citizen Daily Newspaper could not independently verify the claim.
Akech revealed in an exclusive interview that the opposition continues to receive huge support from the citizens.
“We have registered over 300,000 members; this is what we have registered, but the normal citizen, our supporters, and sympathizers are there.” Akech said
He claimed that despite political restrictions, the ‘Viva’ slogan continued to be sung on the streets of Western Bahr El Ghazal, a gesture of wider thriving of the SPLM-IO party.
He said that the opposition cannot estimate its membership statistics as more people continue to join day by day, citing that almost the whole population supports the SPLM-IO.
“The whole state is SPLM-IO; 90% of the citizens of Western Bahr El Ghazal state are SPLM-IO, so we cannot estimate the numbers,” he said.
He disclosed that out of the three counties in Western Bahr El Ghazal, two largely support SPLM-IO.
“When you go to Raja County, yes, it is 98% SPLM-IO; when you come to Wau County, it is almost 100%. I cannot say 100% because there are some people from SSOA and OPP, but they do not have a negative impact on our members in Wau County,” he said.
“When it comes to Jur River County, it is where there are some challenges, and these challenges come with threats. When we wanted to extend, we were threatened by security and all these things,” he added.
He claimed that the SPLM-IO has no doubt in winning most seats in the Western Bahr El Ghazal state come election.
“I want to assure you that 90% of the membership of the citizens of Western Bahr El Ghazal state are SPLM-IO,” he said.
Akech expressed that the SPLM-IO would continue to support the people of Western Bahr El Ghazal State.
He appealed to political elites in the party to work hard by delivering necessary services in order to continue to win the hearts of the citizens.
The opposition’s state deputy chairperson promised to engage with all parties to ensure that political space is created in the state as well as the entire country to give citizens the opportunity to make their choices.