2 SPLM politicians running as independent candidates win race for East African parliament

JUBA – Two members of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) who have decided to run for seats in the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) as independent candidates have won the race against rivals from South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) and Other Political Parties (OPP).

According to official results announced by speaker of parliament Jemma Nunu Kumba, lawmakers Gideon Gatpan Thoar and Mukalia Kennedy won against SSOA and OPP candidates who have not found any support from the SPLM-IG and SPLM-IO.

The two have served as lawmakers on the ticket of the ruling SPLM party and their victories give SPLM a lion’s share of seven lawmakers against two SPLM-IO lawmakers in the East African parliament.

According to the official results announced by Kumba, women have won four seats (44%) while men got five seats (55%).

Three of SPLM-IG’s five seats have been claimed by women. Meanwhile SPLM-IO divided its 2-seat share fifty-fifty between men and woman.

Below are the elected South Sudan lawmakers at the East African Legislative Assembly:

1. Anne Itto – SPLM
2. Wuda Jeremiah – SPLM
3. Gabriel Garang – SPLM
4. Kim Gai Ruot – SPLM
5. Gai Deng Nhial – SPLM
6. Luke Thompson – SPLM-IO
7. Sadia James – SPLM-IO
8. Mukulia Kennedy – Independent
9. Gideon Gatpan Thoar – Independent.