The National Legislative Assembly

The selection process of the members of the East African Legislative Assembly is wrong, a South Sudanese lawyer has said.

On Thursday, the Transitional National Legislative Assembly “democratically elected” nine representatives to the regional assembly.

29 candidates contested for the seats in which six men have won through a polling, while three females were elected unopposed.

The MPs said they already represent one-third women representation, one of the requirements for South Sudan membership to the parliament based in Arusha Tanzania.

Out of the nine, five are from the SPLM; three are independents; and SPLM-IO won only one seat at the EALA.

“Null and void”

The lawyer, Wani Santino, says members of the SPLM-IO contested as a party, but it is not. IO is a party to the 2015 peace agreement.

“It’s not in line with the treaty; it is not in line with the electoral act. The whole process has become null and void,” said Mr. Santino, who petitioned for the withdrawal of the first presidential nominees.

The East African Court of Justice is expected to verify whether proper procedures were followed in the elections of the 9 members.

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