A section of lawmakers from other political parties to the Revitalised Peace Accord have objected to the amendment to the Political Party’s Act passed earlier this week.

After a review by the specialised committee on legislation and justice, the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) adopted the Political Parties Act, 2012 as amended bill 2022 in its ordinary sitting number 09/2022 on May 30, 2022.

The MPs, however, declared in a joint press release signed by SPLM-IO opposition chief whip Eng. Farouk Gatkuoth Kam, and Other Political Parties (OPP) representative, Albino Akol Atak, yesterday that “We strongly object to the ruling made by the speaker of TNLA contrary to the spirit and the text of the peace agreement”.

“We would like to point out that out of the 20 members of TNLA who were granted the chance to deliberate in the August house, 14 of them were the members of SPLM-IG and only six were from the other political parties to the agreement.”

“We deplore the strategy of picking the 14 members from one party (SPLM-IG) over the numbers of the other political parties to deliberate on such a critical bill, hence undermining the mechanism of “consensus” in decision making process provided for by the agreement and the TNLA conduct of business regulation,” they stated.

The opposition, on the other hand, cited four sections of the peace deal that they claimed were breached by the verdict.

For instance, Article 1.18.1 of the 2018 agreement calls for the formation of an NCAC with representatives from legal person committees and other experts to create new or alter existing legislation as needed, according to the terms of the agreement.

What the law stipulates

One point of contention is the bill’s cancellation of section 7.3 (a), which increases the number of eligible voters required for political party registration from 300, originally adopted by the National Constitutional Amendment Committee (NCAC), to 500 members from at least two-thirds of the states, according to the NCAC and Council of Ministers resolutions.

They also expressed dissatisfaction with the bill’s elimination of the principle of diversity by deleting the rights of minorities and marginalised groups outlined in Articles 1.18.9, 1.4.4, 1.4.5, 1.4.6, and 1.4.11.

“We are cognizant that the mandate of the TNLA is to facilitate the implementation of the peace agreement (Articles 1.14.7 and 1.14.8) rather than violate or obstruct reforms envisaged therein.

“We would like to reiterate our respect for the supremacy of the revitalised agreement under Articles 8.2 and 8.3 and affirm our objection to any attempt that violates the peace agreement,” the group stated.

In response to the other political parties’ petition, Jon Agany, the chairperson of the TNLA’s information committee and a member of the SPLM, denied the accusations made in the press release and maintained that the verdict was just.

 “If five parties to the agreement agree on a certain subject amended, I think one or two can object,” he argued.

He claimed that the parties are falsely accusing the speaker, and that she just gives the house guidance.

“The only body to deliberate are the members of parliament, and when they agree, then the speaker cannot alter it, so the speaker was only pronouncing what the house had already passed.”

When questioned if the opposition’s criticism would be taken into account, Agany said that while they have the right to express their displeasure, doing so would have no effect on the measure.

“There will be no change because if a bill is passed by the house, there will be no rebel. It will only be after it has gone to the president and president looks at the bill and raises some concerns and this will be the only way the bill can come back,” Agany explained to The City Review.

Meanwhile, after making the decision to amend the bill on Tuesday, Jemma Nunu Kumba asked all members to retain their unity as representatives of the people, stating that the amendment to the political party’s bill should not divide them as they leave the chamber.

“Of course, there are different views. There are those who are talking about 500 or 300, and I think the majority, according to my record here, are going for 500. Honorable members, remember we must maintain our unity and we should not be very emotional on issues. “