19 political parties have sued the National Election Commission over the scheduling of the general elections before a peace agreement is reached with the SPLM in Opposition.

They say more time is needed to organize the census before the polls.

The parties want the court to issue an order stopping the election process.

“They are saying that there are violations in the constitution, especially in article 194 in the Transitional Constitution which talks about census,” said Agok Makor, lawyer.

According to the transitional Constitution, the census should be conducted before elections. Census had been slated for 2014.

The head of the political parties, Dr Lam Akol, says the current insecurity in the country could not allow for free and fair elections.

“The priority is for peace to prevail because without peace you cannot have communities’ coexistence,” said Dr Akol, “you cannot have the atmosphere that is required for free, fair and transparent elections.”

The government has been insisting that the elections are required to keep legitimacy of the government before the term expires in July.