Lower House voting kicks off in Jubbaland and South West states

Polls open today in Jubbaland and South West states with a total of 112 members of the Lower House expected to be elected at the end of exercise which could run for about three days.

South West state whose sub clans combined command the highest number of MPs (69) will today start with the election of 23 MPs and at least four women expected to be elected. There are four women only seats. Thirteen women will be contesting in the first round.

In Jubbaland, all clans combined have been allocated 43 seats with at least seven MPs expected to be elected today.

The Federal electoral body FIEIT announced Wednesday election for the two regions will start today. It further said Galmudug state was yet to meet the requirements set out by the polls body on the composition of the lists.

Goobjoog News correspondent in the capital of Jubbaland, Kismayu reports the preparation for the poll exercise. “There is one big polling centre, a government facility called Daawad centre which housing six polling stations. There are only Somali security forces and the intelligence agency NISA officers in the area,” our correspondent says.

The correspondent says there are no Amisom soldiers in the area.

From Baydhabo the capital of South West State our correspondent says both Somali and Amisom forces are securing the elections which are being conducted at the presidential palace.

Puntland started the Lower House elections last week and is yet to conclude the process.

The fate of break-away region of Somaliland remains unknown as they have not even started the elections of members of the Upper House.

Upon completion of the exercise, both Houses of Parliament will converge November 30 to elect a new president.