Somalia’s electoral body nullifies election results in jowhar election

MOGADISHU, Somalia- Federal Indirect Electoral Implementation team (FIEIT) has dismissed the voting results of the Lower House elections conducted yesterday in Jowhar town, over violation to adhere to women quota in the seats contested, Garowe Online reports.

The ballot results showed the victory of State Minister for Finance, Abdualhi Moalin Nur and another candidate, Mohamed Abukar Islow “Duali” contesting for seats for sub-clans of Harti-Abgal clan.

Consequently, FIEIT issued a statement to Hirshbelle State-level Indirect Electoral Implementation team (SIEIT) and Hirshabelle President, declaring their decision to nullify the voting results for failing to abide to the National Leadership Forum’s communiqué to reserve 30-percent of seats to women candidates.

According to the electoral rules, a clan that has three seats in the Lower House chamber should reserve one seat exclusively for women candidates from the same clan, whereas clans who have less seats quota will be aggregated to reserve one seat for women candidates.

In Thursday, FIEIT and Independent Electoral Disputes Resolution Mechanism (IEDRM) have released a joint statement announcing it will conduct investigates into electoral malpractices in various regions after allegation of intimidation, vote rigging and harassment of candidates have marred the ongoing Lower House elections.

Both bodies have called clans to abide to the electoral rules and ensure women participation in the ongoing process and warned that actions will be taken against clans that fail to do so.

GAROWEONLINE