MOGADISHU, Somalia - The lawmakers of Galmudug have gathered at Shirkole hall in the central town of Dhusamareb on Sunday to elect a new president amid lack of participation by the independent candidates, Garowe Online reports.

Four presidential candidates - Ahmed Shire Mohamed, Abdullahi Abdullahi Samatar, Abdirahman Adan Sabriye & the FGS-backed front-runner, Ahmed Abdi Kariye (Qoor-Qoor) are vying for the regional state presidency.

According to the electoral procedures, the winning candidate must secure Two-thirds of the votes cast by the 89 MPs. If the threshold is not reached, a runoff would be held where the four candidates with the highest votes move to the second round.

Four other candidates, including former interior minister Abdirahman Odowa and ex-Villa Somalia's chief of staff as well as the powerful Sufi group, Ahlu Sunna have already rejected to participate in the election, citing FGS interference.

GAROWE ONLINE