Questions Emerge Over Controversial Election of Transport Minister as MP From South West

GOOBJOOG NEWS|BAIDOA: The election of seat HOP#204 in Somalia’s House of the People, won by Ports and Marine Transport Minister Cabdulqaadir Maxamed Nuur, has intensified legal and political controversy following a formal protest by a group of federal lawmakers and objections from the incumbent MP.
Jaamac was declared the winner in a by-election held in Baidoa, Southwest State. However, the legitimacy of the process has been openly challenged, with questions focusing on whether the seat was lawfully vacant prior to the vote.
MPs Challenge Legality of the Process
In a statement dated April 7, 2026, a section of members of the House of the People formally rejected the by-election, describing it as unconstitutional and procedurally flawed.
The lawmakers stated that seat HOP#204 legally remains under the mandate of MP Isaaq Cali Sugle, arguing that no lawful basis existed to declare the position vacant.
They cited provisions of Somalia’s Provisional Constitution—particularly Article 59—alongside parliamentary rules of procedure, noting that none of the required conditions to vacate a seat, such as resignation, removal, or death, had been met.
The MPs further warned that proceeding with the election without a clear legal vacancy undermines constitutional order and sets a dangerous precedent for political interference in parliamentary affairs. They called for immediate institutional intervention to halt what they described as an unlawful process and to safeguard the integrity of the legislature.
MP Isaaq Cali Sugle has also rejected the outcome, maintaining that he remains the legitimate holder of the seat.
He accused those behind the by-election of unlawfully stripping him of his parliamentary position, framing the process as a politically driven move rather than a constitutionally grounded transition.
Political Alignments and Emerging Power Calculations
The dispute is unfolding against a backdrop of shifting political alliances and electoral maneuvering.
Both House Speaker Sheekh Aadan Madobe and Minister Jaamac are widely regarded as close allies of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and senior figures within the ruling Justice and Solidarity Party.
Their alignment has led analysts and political observers to interpret the HOP#204 by-election as part of broader positioning ahead of anticipated elections in Southwest State later this month.
Speaker Madoobe is expected to contest the Southwest presidency, and Jaamac’s entry into parliament places him in a strategic position to potentially vie for the speakership should the post become vacant.
Concerns Over Transparency
The speed and manner in which the by-election was conducted have added to the controversy. Critics argue that the process lacked transparency and did not follow established parliamentary procedures for declaring and filling vacant seats.
The dispute underscores persistent institutional challenges within Somalia’s indirect electoral system, where ambiguities in legal processes have previously triggered contested mandates and political tensions