Veteran politician Daniel Awet Akot Thou has won the ruling SPLM primary election for Geographical Constituency No. 1 in Cueibet County, Lakes State, securing 734 votes to become the party’s candidate for a seat in the National Legislative Assembly.
Awet defeated three other candidates: Abraham Ayiec Gop, who received 177 votes; Riak Zachariah Mathen, who secured 24 votes; and Joseph Kuol, who obtained 10 votes.
The results were officially announced at Cueibet County headquarters on Friday.
General David Yau Yau, chairperson of the SPLM high-level committee overseeing primary elections and party congresses in Lakes State, declared Awet the winner after the results were announced.
Yau Yau congratulated Awet on his victory and urged community members and voters to remain patient and maintain peace throughout the electoral process.
“This is one of the great exercises, and I urge the community and voters to remain patient and ensure peaceful primary elections in Cueibet County,” he said.
Lakes State Information Minister William Koji Kirjok said the primaries had been conducted peacefully across Cueibet County. He urged residents to remain calm and maintain peace in the area.
Awet is among a small number of senior SPLM officials and veterans of the liberation struggle who have secured party nominations, while several prominent figures have lost their bids in the primaries ahead of the December 22 general elections.
Background
Awet is a veteran politician and former senior military commander during South Sudan’s liberation struggle. He served as minister of internal affairs in the former Government of Southern Sudan before becoming governor of Lakes State, a position he held from 2007 to 2010.
He later served as deputy speaker of the Legislative Assembly from 2010 until September 2013. In May 2016, President Salva Kiir appointed him presidential adviser on military affairs.
In December 2022, Kiir appointed Awet second deputy chairman of the SPLM as part of a restructuring of the party’s leadership. He held the position until May 2025, when Kiir removed him alongside other senior party officials in a leadership reshuffle.
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