​Somalia: Youth and Sports Minister elected as MP in a re-contest parliamentary ballot

MOGADISHU, Somalia- The outgoing Federal Minister for Youth and Sports Mohamed Abdullahi Nuuh was elected as a member of the Lower House chamber of the Federal Parliament in a re-run election in Mogadishu on Saturday, Garowe Online reports.

Previously, Somalia’s independent dispute commission has nullified the election results of 11 parliamentary seats of Lower House chamber carried out in the regional states over fraud and malpractice.

The dispute commission has decided to re-contest for the seats again and barred Nuh from participating in the election after his security guards were accused of sparking violence in the election hall that resulted in the injury of several delegates in Hirshabelle region. 

Despite the ban imposed by the dispute commission, today’s ballot saw the election of Nuh as MP after receiving majority 43 votes against his rival candidate, Hinda Abdulahi omar who just received 1 vote, according to poll results. Only 44 delegates out of 51 have participated in the casting exercise between the two candidates vying for the seat.    

Previously, the International community has expressed grave concerns over the alleged corruption and intimidation in Somalia’s electoral process and called Somali leaders and electoral commissions to respect and support the decisions of the Independent dispute body to nullify the seats won in fraud and vote rigging process to safeguard the credibility of the Somali election.  

GAROWEONLINE