Gudlawe feuds with VP Dabageed over senate seat

GOOBJOOG NEWS|JOWHAR:

Wrangles between the Hirshabelle President and his deputy could lead to the delay of elections in the Hirshabelle region.

President Ali Gudlawe and his vice president, Yusuf Dabageed are said to be in contention over one of the seats in the Upper House with top-level government officials in the region trying to broker a deal between Gudlawe and Dabageed to no avail.

Elections for the Upper House seats in Hirshabelle parliament were called off after lawmakers allied to the vice president stirred chaos when his preferred candidate, Ali Shaban Ibrahim was defeated in the race.

Dabageed has stood his ground saying that he will not support the senate race if his candidate, Ali Shabaan, is not elected to one of the eight seats allocated to the region.

The dispute between the two Hirshabelle leaders has led to the delay in elections in a region where the senate race has been lauded for its transparent and fair nature compared to all other federal states in Somalia.