Akot Lual Arech has won the ruling SPLM primary election in Warrap State for a seat in the National Legislative Assembly, securing a landslide victory despite a boycott by three rival candidates over a dispute about voting procedures.
Arech received 275 of the 279 votes cast on Saturday in Constituency No. 5, which covers Akon South, Akon North and Alek West in Gogrial West County, President Salva Kiir’s home area. His three challengers, William Wol Mayuol, Duwar Deng and Agasio Akol, received two, one and one vote, respectively.
Four candidates initially contested the primary, but the three challengers withdrew after the election committee rejected their demand for a secret ballot and insisted that delegates vote by queue.
A total of 315 delegates were registered to participate in the primary, but 36 were absent. The committee proceeded with the vote despite the boycott, placing empty chairs to represent the candidates who had withdrawn.
The SPLM primaries are part of the ruling party’s internal candidate-selection process ahead of its national convention and general elections scheduled for December 2026.
Kuoch Nyuol, head of the SPLM high-level committee overseeing the primaries in Warrap State, said the election had been conducted legally and transparently. He urged all candidates and their supporters to accept the results.
The dispute intensified before the vote, with the three candidates submitting a formal complaint to the committee on November 3, questioning Arech’s eligibility and alleging irregularities in the election process.
In their complaint, the candidates questioned whether Arech, a serving army officer, had formally resigned from the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) before joining the party primaries, as required under presidential and military directives.
They also accused him of bribing local chiefs with motorcycles and cash to influence the selection of delegates, determining who could participate in the vote and holding a private meeting with members of the election committee on the eve of the primary.
The candidates further objected to the presence of military personnel at the voting centre, saying it could intimidate delegates and undermine the fairness of the process.
The allegations were detailed in a formal complaint addressed to the chairperson of the SPLM high-level committee overseeing the primaries in Warrap State.
Security personnel were present at the polling centre as delegates queued to cast their ballots.
Despite the withdrawal of the three candidates, some of their supporters stood behind the empty chairs representing the boycotting aspirants.
Arech’s victory followed days of grassroots mobilisation and engagement with communities across the constituency. His supporters celebrated the outcome, praising his engagement with residents and humanitarian assistance to the community.
After being declared the winner, Arech said he would involve community members in setting development priorities and identifying ways to improve service delivery in the constituency.
He said he planned to improve services and would consult his team and local communities on how best to address their needs. He described the victory as significant and pledged to work towards fulfilling the aspirations of the people he hopes to represent.
Among the candidates who boycotted the primary was Duwar Deng, a former member of parliament for the area.
Background
Akot Lual Arech, a relative of President Kiir, is a military officer and politician who previously served as Kiir’s private secretary and special presidential envoy on Pibor affairs.
He also took part in the 2014 peace negotiations between the government and the SSDM-Cobra Faction, led by David Yau Yau.
In 2017, he was appointed security adviser to the governor of the then Gogrial State. He was arrested in Juba in August 2025 and released after about three weeks in detention without being formally charged.
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