Ex-Somalia PM: Puntland Electoral Commission wrong in altering elections date

GAROWE, Somalia - Former Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Somalia Omar Sharmarke has criticized the decision by Puntland's Electoral Commission [PEC] to change the date for the much-anticipated elections, terming the move as "unconstitutional".

PEC, which is persistently accused of collaborating with the current leadership to mutilate the constitution, pushed elections from 8th January 2024 to 25 February 2024, a step that has been widely criticized by the opposition.

In a post on X [formerly Twitter], Sharmarke insisted the move is meant to undermine constitutional gains made in the country and other laws regulated by the state, which has been the most stable region in the Horn of Africa nation since its formation 25 years ago.

"The question is that if PEC doesn’t have the jurisdiction to extend Puntland’s constitutional term limit without any political agreement by all the stakeholders, then this could be just a tactical ploy to cross the 8 January deadline and thus extend further down the road," he said.

Opposition politicians have been accusing Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni of a plot to extend his term beyond the constitutional requirement of five years, citing recent changes to electoral laws by the state assembly. According to the Deni is seeking absolute control of the region.

Impending elections have been the bone of contention with with the opposition also disowning the voter registration exercise which saw underage children being registered as voters in Puntland. The opposition wants traditional elders to play a role in electing leaders while Deni and the team are pushing for universal suffrage.

Over the weekend, elders convened in Garowe, the regional administrative capital of Puntland, where they extensively discussed the current electoral impasse. Previously, there have been efforts to mediate the two parties but the unrest is yet to be contained.

Sultan Said Mohamed Garase, addressing the media, stated that they had united to facilitate a path forward for the Puntland regional state. He emphasized their commitment to resolving the dispute surrounding the upcoming Puntland election.

Somalia has been fighting for stability for the last three decades civil war, inter-clan conflicts, in-house political tussles, and Al-Shabaab menace have been the impediments to the course. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud believes the country's quest for stability will be attained.

GAROWE ONLINE