The Council of Ministers in Eastern Equatoria State has passed a draft amendment of the state constitution to extend the term of the governor for three years in office.

The national parliament has warned state assemblies against the move.

But the State Minister of information, Mark Arkio, says the move is in line with the national transitional constitution.

Arkio says told Eye Radio that the ministers passed the draft yesterday and will be presented to the state legislature for approval soon.

“You know that the tenure of office of both the governor and the state legislative assembly expires by 9 July, 2015. And as you know, a number of things should have happened, that is the census and the election but these are no longer possible because of the current conflict in the country, and as such in order to avoid a leadership vacuum, political vacuum the constitution has to be amended.” He said.
The chairman of the Information Committee in the National Parliament, Thomas Wani Kundu told Eye Radio yesterday that it is illegal for any state to amend its constitution.

He said the tenure of the governors has been extended automatically by the extension of the term of the President in office.