GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU:    ­­­­­The Federal Government is rolling out elections in three Federal Member States allied to Villa Somalia in the backdrop of mixed signals from President Mohamed Farmaajo and unrelenting pressure from opposition for talks, Goobjoog News can authoritatively report.

Sources privy to the proceedings at Villa Somalia have indicated that Farmaajo has ordered elections to proceed in South West, Galmudug, HirShabelle and Banaadir and Gedo regions even as a section of FMS leaders allied to the president said this week they were pushing for a climb-down by Farmaajo.

The elections, Goobjoog News has established will kick off in Galmudug (Dhusamareb and Galkayo), HirShabelle (Jowhar and Beledweyn), South West (Baidoa and Barawe) and Banadir and Gedo regions.

The developments come a day after a meeting between presidents of HirShabelle, Galmudug and South West in Mogadishu and opposition chiefs. Sources at the meeting said the three leaders had presented a proposal to have contested names at the Federal Indirect Elections Team (FIET) struck out.

The three leaders acting on instructions from Villa Somalia also offered to reach out to their counterparts in Jubbaland Puntland both of which have stood ground against the polls unless Farmaajo accedes to their demands.

Ahmed Madobe (Jubbaland) and his Puntland counterpart Abdullahi Deni have both demanded Farmaajo withdraws troops from Gedo as a condition for elections there.

Senate elections which were put off for the third time late December were to start from January 7 but the process has not commenced yet.