International Community raises red flag over candidates lists delay

The international community has warned regional states against any delays in the revision and submissions of lists of candidates to the Upper House noting failure to meet the deadlines would result in a further postponement of the poll process.

In a statement Monday, the international partners which include the UN, African Union and the UK among others said the 48 hour deadline set by the Federal Indirect Electoral Implementation Team (FIEIT) which expires today must be met to ‘enable the respective federal member states elect members of the Upper House without delay’.

The FIEIT returned lists for Galmudug, Puntland and Jubbaland states Sunday citing violation of the 30% quota as set out in the National Leadership Forum September which indicated that 30% of seats should be contested exclusively by women.

The international partners however lauded the South West state for meeting the threshold. In its lists submitted Sunday, South West nominated 16 candidates five of whom were women and set aside seats to be contested by women only.

The remarks come in the wake of failure by the regional states to meet the 2 days extended deadline which lapsed on October 7th. The 135 elders were also supposed to submit lists of delegates who will elect members of the Lower House but had not wholly done so by end of day Monday which was the stipulated deadline.

In a statement September 26th, FIEIT issued new timelines but did not indicate dates for election of members of the Upper House. However an official reached by Goobjoog News said the miss was an oversight and that elections were to be concluded by October 10.

Election of members of the Lower House is set to run from October 23 to November 10 to pave way for presidential elections November 30.

The electoral body announced last month the polls would be delayed for a month citing financial, political and security challenges. They also mentioned delay by elders and regional administrations to submit lists of delegates and candidates in time for the polls.