Central Equatoria State Governor Emmanuel Adil Anthony. (Photo: Office of the Governor)

The Office of the Governor of Central Equatoria State has rejected allegations by the National Patriotic Movement (NPM) that Governor Emmanuel Adil Anthony ordered the blockage of the party’s planned political rally in Lainya County.

The response follows claims by NPM Chairperson Dr. Issa Muzamil that Governor Adil cancelled the party’s rally in Lainya last month despite the party obtaining all the required approvals from the Political Parties Council and relevant security agencies.

Dr. Muzamil said the rally was intended to raise public awareness following the party’s official name change from the National Patriotic Party (NPP) to the National Patriotic Movement (NPM).

In a press statement issued on Saturday, the Governor’s Office described the allegations as “misleading,” “unsubstantiated,” and politically motivated.

The statement said the office had noted “with deep concern” accusations linking Governor Adil to the cancellation of the rally after the party rescheduled the event from July 18 to July 25, 2026.

“The Office of the Governor is not aware of, and was not part of, any circumstances that may have affected the NPM’s rally in Lainya County,” the statement reads.

“It is therefore unfair and misleading to attribute such decisions to the Governor without credible evidence,” the statement added.

The Governor’s Office called on the NPM to provide evidence to support its claims, saying allegations against constitutional office holders should be based on verifiable facts, not speculation or political rhetoric.

It further described the allegations against Governor Adil as “misleading” and “nonsensical in nature.”

The statement said Governor Adil was away on official duty when the alleged incident occurred and was attending engagements in Kajo-Keji County and Uganda’s Arua District.

It said he therefore could not have directed any action concerning the rally.

The Governor’s Office reaffirmed Governor Adil’s commitment to political pluralism, democratic freedoms, and equal political space for all registered political parties in Central Equatoria State.

According to the statement, Governor Adil remains committed to implementing the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) and upholding constitutional guarantees on freedom of association, peaceful assembly and political participation.

The Office also said the Governor supports President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s call for an inclusive electoral process ahead of the country’s anticipated December elections.

It said all registered political parties should be allowed to conduct lawful political activities.

The statement urged political leaders to act responsibly when making public statements, saying allegations should be backed by factual evidence before being presented to the media.

“As South Sudan prepares for elections, political actors should uphold the principles of accountability and fairness by establishing facts before making public accusations,” the statement said.

The Governor’s Office added that Governor Emmanuel Adil Anthony will visit Lainya County on a date to be announced later as part of his continued engagement with communities across Central Equatoria State.