The Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), South Sudan's ruling party, has announced the opening of nominations for party members seeking to contest national and state legislative seats, governorships, and chief administrator positions in the December elections. This process, which begins on October 5, will run until October 9 at the party's national secretariat in Juba. The SPLM is currently the most visible party in preparations for the December vote.
SPLM Secretary-General Dr. Akol Paul Kordit stated that the nomination process is an internal party exercise to select candidates for the general elections and is separate from the formal electoral process overseen by the National Elections Commission (NEC). The NEC is responsible for the conduct of elections, including candidate nominations and regulation of political party nominations. The elections are scheduled for December 22, 2026.
The SPLM will accept applications from members seeking to contest seats in the national parliament, state assemblies, governorships, and the legislative councils of the three administrative areas. Applicants must meet party eligibility requirements, including SPLM membership, and pay a non-refundable nomination fee. The amount of the fee will be communicated when candidates collect their forms.
Applicants will then be shortlisted before undergoing party primaries. Candidates seeking legislative positions will be required to compete in primaries at the county level. According to Kordit, no one in the SPLM will contest in the national general election without going through internal democracy within the SPLM.
Party affairs at state and administrative-area level will continue to be managed by interim SPLM secretaries pending party congresses to elect permanent party officials. SPLM county chairpersons will be elected through party congresses, with delegates from payams, and those elected will subsequently become the party's candidates for commissioner positions in local elections.
The announcement comes as South Sudan steps up preparations for the December polls. The NEC has been training state-level election officials on voter registration, while the electoral body has said it is preparing for elections across the country's 10 states and three administrative areas. President Salva Kiir dissolved the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity on September 22 and formed a caretaker administration ahead of the elections.
The SPLM has endorsed President Salva Kiir as its presidential candidate for the December election. Kordit also stated that caretaker governors and chief administrators are expected to remain politically neutral in their government roles and will not manage SPLM affairs in their respective states or administrative areas.
Key points
- The SPLM's nomination process for the December elections will take place from October 5 to October 9.
- The party will accept applications from members seeking to contest various positions, including national and state legislative seats, governorships, and chief administrator positions.
- The SPLM has endorsed President Salva Kiir as its presidential candidate for the December election.
