Blow to Puntland Parliament as Court Nullifies Term Extension Vote

GOOBJOOG NEWS|GAROWE: Puntland’s State Constitutional Court has dismissed the decision of the state legislature to extend its term by one year in what could now pave the way for presidential and parliamentary elections in January.

The Court sitting in Garowe on Sunday declared the vote by MPs last week inconsequential and directed that the election of a new house be conducted within constitutionally mandated timelines. The verdict follows a suit filed by the State Attorney General challenging the lawmakers’ decision.

Outgoing President Abdullahi Deni rejected the decision last week and announced that his government would be challenging the MPs’ move in court. The motion to extend the term for one year came barely a day last week after Deni backed down on his quest for a one-person-one-vote electoral formula which would have seen the easterly state conduct elections in February.

According to the state constitution, Deni’s term is set to lapse on January 4 to allow for the election of a new president. Following his decision to rescind the universal suffrage agenda, traditional elders will now select the 66 MPs who will in turn elect a new President.

Disputes over the elections of a new president have persisted in Puntland for the last one and at some point spilt into direct violence. In June this year, over 30 people were killed following a vote by the state parliament to amend the constitution to allow for one-person-one-vote.

The opposition has fiercely rejected the decision noting there was no sufficient time to prepare for state-wide elections.