Elections Chair Warns Against Circulating Unofficial Results as Vote Counting Continues in S.West

GOOBJOOG NEWS|BAIDOA:
The Chairman of Somalia’s National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (NIEBC), Cabdikariim Ahmed Hassan, has warned against the dissemination of unofficial election results while vote tallying remains underway in several parts of the country.
Speaking amid the ongoing counting process following recent elections held in some regions, the commission chair stressed that only results officially announced by the electoral body should be considered legitimate. He cautioned that individuals, political actors, media outlets, or groups found sharing unverified results could face legal consequences under the country’s laws.
“Anyone who publishes results that have not been officially released by the Commission will face measures in accordance with the laws of the country,” the chairman said.
The warning comes as anticipation grows among the public and political stakeholders awaiting the outcome of the elections, which are being closely watched as part of Somalia’s broader electoral process. In recent days, unofficial tallies and claims circulating on social media platforms have fueled speculation over preliminary outcomes in some constituencies.
The electoral commission urged citizens, politicians, and members of the media to exercise patience and rely solely on verified information issued through official channels. The chairman emphasized that the integrity and credibility of the electoral process depend on adherence to established procedures during the counting and verification stages.
According to the commission, the vote counting exercise is progressing smoothly across the affected polling areas, with officials continuing the verification and consolidation of ballots before the formal declaration of results.
The commission added that once the tallying process is fully completed and verified, the official results will be publicly announced in accordance with electoral laws and procedures.