A significant political realignment unfolded in Western Bahr el Ghazal State with thirty-five members of the National United Democratic Front (NUDF) tendering their collective resignation and formally joining the United South Sudan Party (USSP) over the weekend.
USSP is led by Paulino Lukudu Obede, Deputy Governor of Central Equatoria State.
William Jorom Angelo, former NUDF Deputy Secretary General, read a joint resignation statement on behalf of the defectors in Wau at the weekend and cited “poor leadership and marginalization of members within the party” as the driving factors behind their departure.
According to the statement, the group comprises 25 members from Wau County and 10 from Jur-River County, marking a notable shift in the balance of political forces within the state chapter.
The defections follow recent internal upheavals in NUDF’s state structures. On 29 June 2026, NUDF National Chairman Hon. Kornelio Kon Ngu issued Order No. 7/2026, relieving George Richard Ukello of his role as acting state chairman for Western Bahr el Ghazal State.
Ukello was once considered for nomination for the position of Western Bahr el Ghazal state Minister of Housing, Land, and Public Utilities, representing Wau County. His nomination had earlier received the endorsement of the Other Political Parties (OPP) in the state on14 May 2026.
The OPP, composed of representatives from six political parties, initially backed Ukello’s candidature. The wider endorsement later turned into a controversy following his party’s withdrawal of its signatures, leading to his replacement by his party’s leadership.
In a strongly worded rebuttal, NUDF’s national leadership in Juba dismissed the resignations, characterizing them as opportunistic rather than principled.
“The NUDF rejects the framing of George Richard Ukello’s collective resignation letter dated 8 July 2026,” the NUDF statement read. “This is not a principled departure but a face-saving maneuver following Ukello’s removal for mismanagement, institutional failure, and political betrayal.”
The party further accused Ukello of running the Wau County branch as a personal fiefdom, alleging favoritism and institutional collapse under his stewardship.
Meanwhile, the USSP welcomed the defectors, framing the move as an exercise of constitutional and political rights. Acting Secretary General Patrick Baraka Dunstan confirmed the development in a phone interview from Juba:
“Yes, over 30 members have joined us from Wau. We did not coerce or mobilize them; it was their decision,” he said. “We welcome them because we want to work together to serve our country and our people.”
The defections underscore the fluidity of South Sudan’s political landscape, where party loyalty remains volatile and leadership disputes often trigger realignments.
The political landscape within UNDF in Western Bahr el Ghazal state is likely to influence the party’s preparedness ahead of the anticipated general election scheduled for 22 December 2026.
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