JSP Launches Galmudug Campaign Ahead Of September 30 Repeat Election

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: The Justice and Solidarity Party (JSP) has begun its campaign for the repeat election in Galmudug, opening its latest drive for support at a rally in the state capital, Dhusamareb.

The campaign comes as political organisations prepare for a 30 September vote to elect Galmudug’s House of Representatives and local councils. The National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission closed the submission of candidate lists earlier this month.

JSP’s campaign launch brought together party officials, politicians, government representatives and supporters, with the party presenting Libaan Ahmed Hassan as its candidate for the Galmudug presidency.

The repeat election follows a ruling by Somalia’s Supreme Court on 24 August that annulled the results of the 30 July elections and ordered fresh polls.

The court said the earlier elections had not been conducted in accordance with constitutional and electoral requirements and that the irregularities had affected the validity of the results.

The ruling has since pushed Galmudug’s political organisations back into an election campaign, with the new timetable setting the vote for the end of September.

JSP had secured the largest share of seats in the annulled local council results, according to figures released after the July election, although those results no longer stand following the Supreme Court decision.

The party’s latest campaign is expected to focus on voter mobilisation, political messaging and outreach to communities across Galmudug as the rerun approaches.

The electoral process has also faced fresh political developments. The electoral commission announced a list of parties eligible to contest the repeat elections, while the Towfiiq Party was not included in the list, a decision that has prompted criticism from the organisation.

With polling day now less than two weeks away, the focus is shifting from the annulled July vote to whether the repeat election can proceed under the timetable set by the electoral commission and within the legal framework outlined by the Supreme Court.