South West opposition leaders demand presidential vote in November, rubbish Lafta Gareen’s term extension

GOOBJOOG NEWS|NAIROBI: Opposition politicians in South West State have demanded that elections for a new president begin in November rubbishing a parliamentary motion that extended President Lafta Gareen’s stay in office until 2024.

The leaders, most of whom are presidential candidates said the ‘term of the political arrangement in South West state’ ends on November 1, 2023.

The leader who concluded a three-day meeting in Nairobi on Tuesday accused President Lafta Gareen’s administration of failing to implement the ‘the provisions of the February 4, 2023 agreement especially those relating to citizen rights’ and organising democratic and inclusive elections.

In April 2020, the state parliament in Baidoa endorsed an anticipatory extension of Lafta Gareen’s term by two more years. His term was set to lapse in December 2022 following the completion of a four-year term which began in December 2018.

According to the proponents of the extension, the additional time meant that the president’s term would end at the same time as that of the parliament which ends in 2024 to necessitate the holding of parliamentary and presidential elections at the same time.

The opposition leaders also demanded that an election committee which will be tasked with the election of new MPs be formed.