Three Parties Dispute Leadership Names on PPC Register
The official register lists rival names for NDM and SSNMC. The parties challenge how the entries were changed, while the council has yet to explain the underlying process publicly.
JUBA — The National Democratic Movement (NDM), South Sudan National Movement for Change (SSNMC) and Federal Democratic Party (FDP) are challenging leadership entries in the Political Parties Council’s published register. The online list establishes which names the PPC currently records. It does not show who requested each change, what evidence was examined or whether affected factions were notified and heard.
| Party | PPC register currently names | Challenge reported |
|---|---|---|
| NDM | Mahjoub Bel Turok | Lam Akol disputes the change; a rival NDM faction also claims the party name. |
| SSNMC | Clement Juma Mbugoniwia | Moro Isaac Genesio disputes the leadership entry. |
| FDP | Changkuoth Bichiok Reth | Complainants say its leader and emblem were changed. |
All three appear as active in the PPC’s online register. The list runs through 46 entries. The PPC announced 39 registered parties in July, although a comparison of dated registers and each party’s registration file is still needed to explain the additions and their eligibility for the December election.
What the order does and does not show
The PPC describes Order No. 5 as endorsing full registration for transitioned and compliant political entities under the Political Parties Act. The public order page cites verification requirements, including membership and financial declarations and the relinquishment of parallel armed structures. That text alone does not establish the basis for each changed leadership entry or prove that the additional parties failed those requirements.
At a 30 September news conference, representatives of the three parties accused PPC chair James Akol Zakayo of directing unilateral changes. NDM secretary-general Bol Joseph Agau also alleged that seven newly listed entities had not followed the required registration process and that FDP’s logo had changed. These are the parties’ allegations. The council chair’s substantive answer and the relevant application files, minutes and notices were not available in the material reviewed for this article. Radio Tamazuj reported the complaints.
Lam Akol’s NDM leadership has already been contested by a rival faction. An accurate account must therefore identify both the current official entry and the competing claim without declaring either side the lawful leader before an authoritative decision.
Ballot access and the next documents
Registered leadership can determine who signs candidate nominations and uses a party’s name and emblem. A dispute left unresolved near nominations may generate rival submissions and appeals. The parties remain listed as active; the register does not itself show that any has been excluded from the ballot.
South Sudan Press is seeking the complete order and annexes, old and new register versions, registration certificates, applications, full council minutes, any hearing records and notices served on each party. The PPC and National Elections Commission should clarify who may nominate candidates while an appeal is pending, the applicable deadlines and the route to an impartial review. A dated copy of the current register should be preserved because online entries may change.