Council says registration open throughout the year, but only parties registered by June 30 will be eligible to contest in the 2026 general elections.

By The City Review

Political Parties Council (PPC) has announced June 30 as the deadline for registration for parties seeking to content the 2026 general elections’

 In a public notice issued on 1 June, the council said all aspiring political parties must complete their registration by 30 June 2026 to qualify for participation in the country’s planned elections.

“The Political Parties Council (PPC) advises all aspiring political groups of the upcoming regulatory timeline for the 2026 General Elections,” PPC Chairperson James Akol Zakayo said.

According to the registrar of political parties, though political party registration is open throughout the year, only parties registered by June 30 will be eligible to contest in the 2026 general elections.

“General Registration remains a continuous, ongoing process,” but the “Election Cut-Off Date is June 30, 2026,” the notice read, urging parties that have not completed the process to act swiftly to meet the deadline.

The Council said applicants must include completed registration forms, certified copy of the party constitution and rules, list of founding members with nationwide membership signatures, detail of office bearers at national and state levels and proof of payment of the prescribed registration fees.

The Council also instructed all registered political parties to submit their audited financial statements for the 2025/2026 financial year.

“The Political Parties Council (PPC) hereby notifies all registered political parties to submit their audited books of accounts for the Financial Year 2025/2026 to the PPC within the first week of July 2026,” PPC said.

So far, the Political Parties Council has registered 29 political parties.

Its announcement comes at a time when the country has stepped its feet forward in preparation for the December polls, with the National Election Council set to announce the election timelines this month.

Chairperson of the National Elections Commission, Abednego Akok Kacoul said in March that the body would announce the official date for its long-awaited general elections in June.

Professor Akok said the Commission was preparing to roll out two major nationwide activities: civic education and voter registration. He explained that the two processes would begin simultaneously as the country moves closer to the polls.

The Commission also confirmed that the elections will take place across 102 geographical constituencies covering South Sudan’s 10 states and three administrative areas.  

However, three months later, the voter registration is yet to kick off. And the Commission still faces funding challenges, issues that could stall its planning for the exercise.

With only 4% of the election budget released to the body, key issues around the peace agreement unfulfilled, questions have been raised regarding the possibility of conducting the elections as scheduled.

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“The Political Parties Council (PPC) hereby notifies all registered political parties to submit their audited books of accounts for the Financial Year 2025/2026 to the PPC within the first week of July 2026,” PPC Chairperson James Akol Zakayo said.