Former Jur River County commissioner John Arop Apai has won the SPLM primary election to become the party’s candidate for governor of Western Bahr el Ghazal State and its state chairperson, securing 125 votes.
Arop was declared the winner after the party’s primary election, held in Wau on Friday evening, November 13, 2026.
The exercise was conducted in the presence of Western Bahr el Ghazal caretaker Governor Maj. Gen. Sharif Daniel Sharif, SPLM Deputy Chairperson Simon Kun Puoch and the party’s Secretary-General, Akol Paul Kordit.
Arop’s victory makes him the SPLM’s flag bearer for the state governorship in the upcoming general elections, now scheduled for February 11, 2027.
He defeated four other contenders, according to the results announced after the vote.
Former deputy governor Edward Aporo received no votes, while Zachariah Garang Will secured 92 votes. Louis Ramadan received two votes, and Awas Juma received 12 votes.
The primary was part of the SPLM’s internal process to select its candidates for state-level positions ahead of the general elections.
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