Polls body suspends Jowhar vote over violence, mute on disciplinary action

The Federal electoral body, FIEIT has suspended Lower House elections in HirShabelle following a gun fight Friday evening injuring two people but made no comment on disciplinary action.

In a statement to newsrooms Saturday, the Federal Indirect Electoral Implementation Team, FIEIT condemned the disruption of the electoral process noting the exercise will resume after a security assessment is concluded.

The electoral body also said it was concerned about the security of the delegates, candidates and the electoral team officers while calling on security forces to ensure the elections are held in a safe environment.

The polls body did not however indicate if it was taking any disciplinary measures against those concerned in the violation of electoral conduct. Two candidates, one in Jubbaland and South West states were disqualified early in the month after their delegates were involved in death threats and killing of fellow delegates.

A scuffle ensued in the polling centre last evening after results for two leading candidates were announced which indicated the two had to proceed to a second round since none had attained the 50%+1 threshold.

A delegate whom Goobjoog News spoke to and reports corroborated by several sources said security guards of Youth and Sports Minister Abdullahi Nuhu turned off the lights in the polling hall and later indiscriminately fired at the delegates of his opponent injuring two people.

Goobjoog News correspondent in Jowhar says the state level electoral body, SIEIT members have been in a meeting since morning deliberating on the matter as elections remained suspended.