This article was last updated on May 25, 2022
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While calling for fresh democratic elections; to be held under free and fair atmosphere, Greater Torit youth led by Arob Jimmy Odera say they prefer a fresh but democratized election.
“We do hereby nullify the current wrongly constituted Youth Executive Body and consider it illegitimate; therefore, it should be dissolved to allow free and fair elections be held within a period of two weeks from the time you receive this petition,” reads the petition.
The Greater Torit youth say that they will continue to remain outside of this illegitimate Youth Body until appropriate actions aim at responding to this dispute are taken considerably.
Epone Emmanuel Lolima may be allowed to contest in a fresh elections if he relinquishes himself from the current public political office, provide proper accountability reports on the past activities of 2011 referendum taskforce.
“This is to clear him from prudency and principal of neutrality, non-partisan and free from any political affiliation influence while exercising youth affairs,” they said.
Youth say the electoral process rules set were breached to meet particular set political objectives of some politicians.
“We were very keen observing the behaviours of some politicians who at last betrayed us by strongly lobbying for the same candidate Epone Emmanuel Lolima, from Greater Kapoeta region only to buy political favours,” the petition reads.
They say that there were phone calls coming from some government officials threatening to summon or arrest youths who could attempt to withdraw from elections and that the chief facilitator also openly attested that he has been receiving calls on who the president shall be, justified that his perception was already influenced.
However, the youth say they are committed to support the government but are demanding for free and fair electoral process.
Last Month, the new youth executive body for Eastern Equatoria State was elected with growing controversies and anger during the elections boycotted by a section of the youth representatives citing interference from politicians.
About 15 out of 27 participants from Torit region walked out of the process leaving 26 from Kapoeta region against 12 from Torit to carryout elections for 11 positions to form the executive body for the state youth.
Co-funded by Conflicts Mitigation and Stabilization Initiative (CMSI) and United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), the elections, facilitated by Crisis Management Initiative (CMI), preceded a four-day conference.
Torit youth expressed dissatisfaction over the conduct of elections accusing politicians of interfering in the process.
Mr. Epone Emmanuel Lolima, representing Kapoeta North County was elected the state youth president with Lopwa Paul representing Ikwoto County emerging as vice president.
The Youth Executive Body Secretary General favoured Michael Ajeo representing Torit County whose deputy is Ario Sunday Roselyne Naroo representing Kapoeta East County.
The Finance Secretary was named as Loka Simon representing Budi County and Ukongo Martin Agura from Lafon Administrative area, representing Lafon/Lopa County becomes Information and Public Relations Secretary with Josephine Night representing Torit County deputizing him.
A position of Planning, Research, Trainings and Academic Affairs Secretary favoured Aponi Ernest Paul from Kapoeta East County but Ms. Nadenge Magdalene representing Budi County emerged as Gender and Social welfare Secretary.
Because the entire youths from Imehejek Administrative area or corridor and those of Magwi County boycotted the elections process, two out of 11 positions were reserved for them as practice of fairness by elections conductors who according to them did not want any of the eight counties in the state be left out from representation.
Those two reserved positions are Peace and Reconciliation Secretary and Sports, Recreational and Games to go to Imehejek corridor and Magwi County respectively.
Also facilitating the controversial elections were two key leaders namely Mr. Leopold Bhoroma and Mr. Boloch John Komen who represented Conflicts Mitigation and Stabilization Initiative (CMSI) and United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) respectively who were there to assist Mr. Fareed Musa Fataki, the main facilitator in the name of Crisis Management Initiative (CMI).
Initially, Torit region endorsed a single nominated candidate’s Acire John to stand against Kapoeta candidate’s Epone Emmanuel Lolimo but as they boycotted the elections, they lost hence making the Kapoeta candidate’s Epone Emmanuel Lolimo emerge unopposed.
Though agreed to have elections be conducted using a secret ballot as a criterion, all positions were filled at nomination stage as there were no oppositions as some of Torit region walked out leaving only 12 of them in the election process.
The observers who included Media representatives, UNMISS, Civil Society Network for EES (CSNEES), UNICEF, CMSI, NDI and the opposition’s observers of two regions came out without fear that there were no irregularities but blamed Torit for walking out.
The observers added elections held were fairly done and no rigging noted except one of illegal voter and one observer from media side who both were resolved immediately.
The Torit protesting group vows not to recognize the named body and has also threatened to launch a protest as it terms the elected body as null and void.
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