JSP Candidate Liban Hassan Receives Certificate to Contest Galmudug Presidential Election

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: Liban Ahmed Hassan, the Justice and Solidarity Party (JSP) candidate for the Galmudug presidency, has formally received his candidacy certificate ahead of the regional leadership election scheduled for October 22.

In a statement issued Tuesday, Liban confirmed his registration and thanked the electoral authorities and officials who facilitated the process.“Today, I officially received my candidacy certificate for the Galmudug leadership election,” he said.Liban expressed particular appreciation to National Electoral Commission Chairman Abdikarim Ahmed Hassan, the leadership of the Galmudug State Assembly and other officials involved in the electoral process.

He also appealed to members of the state assembly to support his presidential bid, pledging to work with lawmakers towards the development and future of Galmudug.Liban, also known as Liban Shuluq, was nominated by the JSP in June after outgoing President Ahmed Abdi Kariye, commonly known as Qoorqoor, withdrew from the race.

His candidacy comes amid strong parliamentary backing for the JSP, which secured 67 of the 89 seats in the September 30 repeat state assembly elections. The party also won the speakership and both deputy speaker positions on October 18.The repeat elections followed a Supreme Court ruling that annulled the July 30 results over electoral irregularities.

The process has faced criticism following the exclusion of the Towfiiq political organisation, which had successfully challenged the earlier election in court.Under the electoral timetable, presidential candidates are expected to address lawmakers on Wednesday before the assembly votes on Thursday to elect Galmudug’s president and vice president.