Election integrity · Political Parties Council

Parties Challenge Changes to Election Registration Records

NDM, SSNMC and FDP say a new party register alters their leaders and, for FDP, its symbol. The council’s authenticated order and competing records are still needed.

By South Sudan Press · 1 October 2026

JUBA — Three political parties have accused South Sudan’s Political Parties Council of changing their registration details ahead of the planned 22 December election. The National Democratic Movement (NDM), South Sudan National Movement for Change (SSNMC) and Federal Democratic Party (FDP) raised the complaint at a joint press conference on 30 September, according to Radio Tamazuj. The central question is which leaders and symbols the council will recognise when nominations are submitted.

NDM secretary-general Bol Joseph Agau said a new list circulating in Juba replaced the leaders recorded for all three parties and changed the FDP’s logo. He said the number of registered parties had risen from 39 at the close of the 30 June process to 46. According to Agau, the parties sought an explanation and received PPC Order No. 5 of 2026, which he said attributed the changes to chair James Akol Zakayo.

There is a numerical distinction worth preserving. Radio Tamazuj reports Agau saying the order granted registration to nine political entities, while he alleged that seven newly added parties had not met the statutory procedure. Neither figure establishes, on its own, why the published total reportedly changed by seven. The old and new registers, dates of approval and order itself must be compared before a definitive count can be given.

Established: The parties made their objections publicly. Not established: that the council unlawfully altered records, that seven parties were improperly registered, or that any complainant has been barred from the ballot. No court ruling on the disputed entries has been identified.

Why a register dispute can become a ballot dispute

Recognition of a party’s officers, name and symbol affects who can authorise nominations and represent it before electoral bodies. Rival factions may also claim legitimate control of the same organisation. The PPC should explain the basis for every disputed entry and whether its decisions followed notice, evidence and a chance for affected parties to respond. The complainants should publish the registration certificates and correspondence on which they rely, with sensitive personal information handled appropriately.

For now, this is an allegation with potentially serious electoral consequences, not proof of ballot exclusion. The NEC should state whether nominations may be filed while a PPC decision is challenged and what remedy is available before the nomination deadline. If party identity remains unresolved until voting materials are prepared, a later correction could become harder for candidates and voters alike.

Documents and responses sought

South Sudan Press requests PPC Order No. 5, dated versions of the register, minutes and legal grounds for each change; the seven parties’ application files; NDM, SSNMC and FDP certificates and leadership filings; and a written response from the PPC chair. The NEC should publish the timetable for objections and explain how it will handle a party whose entry is disputed during candidate registration.

Reporting basis: Radio Tamazuj, 30 September 2026. The PPC order and registers have not been supplied to South Sudan Press. Corrections: editor@southsudanpress.com.