SPLM-IO secretary in Lakes State refutes defection rumors

RUMBEK – The SPLM-IO Secretary in Lakes State, Alek Malaak Atem, has rebutted allegations claiming her defection to the SPLM party along with approximately 70 officials who announced their defection in the state capital Rumbek yesterday.

Poth Madit Dut, former deputy governor and SPLM-Io parliamentarian claimed yesterday that he had defected with at least 70 senior members of the main armed opposition group, including Atem, who also serves as the gubernatorial advisor on child and gender.

However, in an interview with Sudans Post yesterday, Ms. Atem dismissed the claims of her defection.

“I have not departed from the SPLM-IO party. These allegations that Alek Malaak has joined other defectors and aligned with SPLM-IG are mere propaganda,” she said.

“I want to clarify that I have not joined SPLM-IG. I remain with SPLM-IO and continue to serve as the State secretary for SPLM-IO in Lakes State,” she added.

Atem acknowledged that several SPLM-IO members have defected to the SPLM but asserted that the Lakes State office has not received any official resignations.

“Here at the SPLM-IO office in Rumbek, we have not received any official documents, nor have we been informed of their resignation. We have only seen reports in the media and heard rumors of SPLM-IO party members defecting to SPLM-IG,” she stated.

She emphasized her own commitment to the SPLM-IO while acknowledging movements between parties.

“We have not abandoned the SPLM-IO party for SPLM-IG. We still have a significant number of supporters in Lakes State,” she asserted, urging remaining SPLM-IO members in the state to remain steadfast in their allegiance to the party.

Atem remarked that the exact number of defectors remains unclear and disputed the figures provided by the defectors as exaggerated.

“I have seen reports on social media, but I do not possess any official documents to confirm the exact number of individuals who have left the SPLM-IO for SPLM-IG. However, I have heard that there are 3 ministers, 3 MPs in the national parliament, 2 chairpersons of the State independent commissions, 1 deputy commissioner, and 12 members of the State revitalized transitional assembly in Lakes State, among others,” she said.

“Yet, we lack official documentation to ascertain the precise number of resignations and affiliations with SPLM-IG, whether in Juba or here in Rumbek,” she added.