National Patriotic Movement begins nationwide mobilization, welcomes musician Franco

By Liam Josh

The National Patriotic Movement (NPM) officials during their official announcement of nationwide membership registration and mobilisation activities. [Photo: Courtesy]

The National Patriotic Movement (NPM) has announced the commencement of nationwide membership registration and mobilisation activities ahead of the December general elections.

The party’s chairperson, Dr. Issa Muzamil Sebit Makhelele, made the announcement during the movement’s press conference held in Juba, saying the party is preparing to contest various elective positions across the country.

Makhelele said a party delegation had recently visited parts of Central Equatoria State, including Lainya and Kajo-Keji, as part of its membership mobilisation exercise, with planned visits to Yei and Morobo county, He said the exercise would cover all ten states before the party compiles a list of prospective candidates for different elective positions.

According to the chairperson, the party will conduct internal primaries in constituencies where more than one candidate expresses interest, while candidates seeking positions without competition will be declared unopposed.

“We believe in democracy and the importance of allowing our members to choose their representatives,” Makhelele said.

He emphasised that only registered party members would be eligible for endorsement to contest elections on behalf of the movement.

The chairperson further explained that the endorsement process would begin at the grassroots level, with party structures in the respective counties and constituencies responsible for identifying and endorsing candidates rather than the national office.

He said the movement had already commenced official membership registration and established registration books for all ten states.

He also called on the National Electoral Commission to announce the commencement of voter registration, saying the party was eagerly awaiting the process as part of preparations for the December polls.

Meanwhile, the movement officially welcomed musician Metaloro Dinya commonly known as Franco , whose names were introduced during the press conference as Dinya Metaloro Joseph Martin, as its newest member.

Makhelele said Franco had completed the party’s membership application form, which he personally approved during the event.

He confirmed that Franco’s name would subsequently be entered into the party’s official membership register, formalising his admission into the movement.

Newly admitted National Patriotic Movement member and musician Franco has cited poor service delivery, inadequate public infrastructure and weak communication between political leaders and grassroots communities as reasons for joining the political movement.

Speaking after his official unveiling in Juba, Franco said communities across South Sudan continued to face similar development challenges, including poor road networks, inadequate healthcare facilities and a lack of essential educational infrastructure.

He expressed concern that more than a decade after South Sudan gained independence in 2011, many communities were still struggling with basic public services.

“If you go to Lainya, what you have seen there is the same thing that you get from here. Change does not come straight away; it takes time,” Franco said.