Outspoken 4.5 critic Fadumo Dayib axed from Integrity Committee barely 72 hours after appointment

Fadumo Dayib, a former presidential candidate was dropped from the Presidential Election Integrity Committee barely three days after appointment. Photo: internet

Former Presidential candidate and outspoken activist Fadumo Dayib has been dropped from the Presidential Elections Integrity Committee barely 72 hours after her appointment alongside eight other eminent personalities was made public by House Speaker Mohamed Osman Jawaari.

Through a text message Wednesday evening, Parliament Secretary General Abdikarim Haaji Buh informed Dayib she was no longer a member of the committee following a review of the list. No more details were however provided regarding the rationale.

Fadumo, a vociferous critic of the electoral process under the clan based 4.5 system told Goobjoog News the decision to fire her was not strange but affirmed her fears the elections were grossly compromised.

“This affirms my fears and that of the public that the elections are already compromised and will be rigged. I have been outspoken about this and I will not allow them to misuse power. They can’t buy me or make me shut up,” said Dayib.

Parliament leadership has however remained tight lipped about the matter despite having appointed her and went ahead to order for air tickets to be sent to all the committee members residing outside the country include Dayib.

Lower House Deputy Speaker Mahad Awad responded to Goobjoog News question with ‘No comment.’

In a memo last Sunday, House Speaker Mohamed Osman Jawaari announced the appointment of nine members to the PEIC with the objective of ‘providing Parliament, Presidential candidates and the public with an assurance that the process of electing the new president has been free and fair’.

Among the functions of the Committee are to immediately identify any potential irregularities and or possible breaches of the Rules of Procedure and bring these to the attention of the Speakers (Lower House and Senate).

Further, the Committee was tasked with preparing a final report for Parliament on the integrity of the electoral process.

Fadumo Dayib who dropped out of the presidential race has consistently voiced her disaffection with the electoral process including her comment during a presentation this past week at the London based think tank African Research Institute. She pointed to the 4.5 clan system as her main reason for pulling out the race adding the process ‘dehumanises some Somalis.’

She has variously lambasted President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration for ‘corruption and failed efforts to establish peace and stability in the country’. Mohamud is defending his seat in the February 8 poll.

It is not clear if Parliament will replace Dayib or will opt to go with the 8 members for the Committee.

The elections are scheduled for February 8 and has attracted 24 candidates, all male.