National Legislative Assembly - Courtesy

As campaigns and voting for parliamentary seats at the regional parliament kick off on Thursday, the SPLM secretariat has warned of disciplinary measures against its members contesting as independent candidates.

“Am not saying don’t go and contest, am saying resign because the one that is going to contest as independent, is somebody who does not belong to any political party,” Kuol Atem Bol. the secretary for political affairs, organizations, and mobilization in SPLM national secretariat said.

This week, parties to the peace agreement submitted nominees to contest for the role in the East Africa Legislative Assembly.

According to a list received by Eye Radio from the R-TNLA clerk’s office, 26 candidates have been verified as contestants.

Five are from SPLM, two from SPLM-IO, two from OPP, one from SSOA, and one from USAP.

The SPLM member candidates include Dr. Ann Itto, Gai Deng Nhial, Dr. Gabriel Garang, Dr. Wuda Jeremiah, and Kim Gai Ruot.

SPLM-IO nominees are Luke Thomson and Sadia James Sebit while Emmanuel Makur is nominated by SSOA and Nyakuma Peter Gatkuoth and Josephine Daniel by OPP. Bruthurus Ayol Abuol stands on the ticket of the USAP party.

Fifteen others are competing as independent candidates.

They are Gabriel Alaak, Gedeon Gatpan, Thomas Dut, Mukulai Kennedy, Esther Aker, Buor Gatwech, Agol Malak, Katharina Peter, Ronal Duany, Nhial Abraham, Ajak Mayol.

Others are Dr. Paneu Garang, Kot Martin, Mijak Ngok, Wani Stephen, Deng Alier, Dhuruai Mabor, Roselina Samuel, Akoch Ajang, and Tek Chan.

They will be batting for just nine seats at the EALA today.

However, Bol said some of the party members decided to contest as independent candidates, warning if they do, they should resign from the party.