By Louis Loku
Central Equatoria State has dismissed allegations by the National Patriotic Movement (NPM) that Governor Emmanuel Adil Anthony ordered the blockage of the party’s planned political rally in Lainya County.
In a press statement issued on Sunday, the Governor’s Office described the accusations as “unfair and misleading,” saying Governor Emmanuel Adil Anthony neither directed nor was aware of any action that could have prevented the rally from taking place.
The statement was issued in response to claims made by an NPM official alleging that the Governor had instructed authorities to block the party’s political activities in Lainya County between July 18 and 25.
“The Office of the Governor is not aware of and is not part of any circumstances that may have affected NPM’s rally in Lainya County,” the statement read, adding that attributing such decisions to the Governor without credible evidence was unjustified.
The Governor’s Office further challenged the NPM to provide evidence supporting its allegations, stressing that accusations against constitutional office holders should be based on verifiable facts rather than speculation.
According to the statement, Governor Adil was on official assignments in Kajo-Keji County and Arua District during the period in question, distancing himself from the alleged incident.
The Office reaffirmed the governor’s commitment to political pluralism, democratic freedoms, and equal political participation for all registered political parties operating in Central Equatoria State.
It said the Governor has consistently supported an open political environment that allows parties to conduct lawful campaigns as the country prepares for the December 2026 general elections.
The statement also reiterated the Governor’s commitment to the Transitional Constitution of South Sudan, the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS), and laws protecting freedom of association, peaceful assembly, and political participation.
As South Sudan moves closer to the scheduled elections, the Governor expressed support for President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s vision of an inclusive electoral process that provides equal opportunities for all registered political parties to campaign freely.
The Governor’s Office also urged political leaders across the country to exercise responsibility when issuing public statements, calling for allegations to be supported by factual evidence before being shared with the media.
Meanwhile, the Office announced that Governor Emmanuel Adil Anthony is expected to visit Lainya County on a date that will be communicated later as part of his continued engagement with communities across Central Equatoria State.