Four opposition MPs ousted from Northern Bahr el Ghazal state Parliament

AWEIL – Four opposition members of parliament have been dismissed from their positions in Northern Bahr el Ghazal state’s transitional legislative assembly.

The lawmakers, representing the Other Opposition Parties (OPP), were removed from their seats on November 17, sparking accusations of political maneuvering and favoritism.

Peter Yor Kiir, one of the dismissed MPs, told Sudans Post that the decision to oust them was arbitrary and lacked transparency.

He alleged that Deputy Governor Tong Chol Ayat, also an OPP member, orchestrated the dismissals due to personal grievances and a desire to consolidate power within the alliance.

Kiir pointed out that four out of the eight OPP representatives in the state parliament have now been removed, including one who recently passed away.

He questioned the appointment of a replacement by Deputy Governor Chol, alleging that the individual is a relative of the deputy governor.

“This is a clear case of political manipulation,” Kiir asserted. “The dismissals are unjust and stem from long-standing political conflicts within the OPP.”

Deputy Governor Ayat, however, defended the decision, claiming that it was necessary to rectify an unfair distribution of seats within the OPP.

He explained that the eight assembly seats allocated to the OPP were supposed to be shared among six different political parties, but two parties, Mayen’s Umbrella and USSAP, had secured more seats than agreed upon.

“The seats were supposed to be distributed equally among the six parties,” Ayat stated. “However, Mayen’s Umbrella and USSAP took more than their share, leaving the other parties with fewer seats.”

Ayat maintained that the removal of the four MPs was necessary to restore balance and ensure that all OPP parties were represented fairly in the state parliament.

He also denied allegations that he had orchestrated the dismissals for personal gain.

“My actions were driven by a desire to uphold fairness and justice,” Ayat declared. “The dismissals were not motivated by personal interests.”

The dismissals have caused a rift within the OPP, deepening existing divisions and raising concerns about the stability of the opposition alliance.

The situation is likely to remain volatile in the coming days, with both sides seeking to justify their actions and gain the upper hand.