Speaker Jawaari makes comeback as Jubbaland and South West states elect MPs

Delegates cast their vote for MPs in Jubbaland where 7 MPs were elected out of 43. Similar exercise went on in South West state. November 11, 2016|Photo: Amisom

Jubbaland and South West states completed the first round of Lower House elections Tuesday evening with each state electing seven MPs key among them the immediate former Federal Parliament Speaker Osman Jawaari.

Jubbaland led the pack in sending women to the August House as three women, Maryan Aweys Jama, Hamze Sheikh Hasan and Luul Abdi Aden were elected. In South West state, Fowziya Mohamed Sheik floored Abdiaziz Abdullahi to clinch the seat as men took up the remaining six seats.

There was an almost a repeat scenario in South West when four out of seven candidates sailed through without competition as their rivals dropped their bids just as it happened during the Upper House elections when candidates for five seats gave up their chances leading to a close of what would have been a second day election day.

Amisom police and Somali security forces secured polling centres in Kismayu as voting went on without any hitches. November 8, 2016|Photo: Amisom

Former Speaker Osman Jawari who had before been thought to be retiring in politics made a come back to the House after garnering 45 votes out of the possible 51. His opponent Abdirahman Sheik Ibrahim managed five votes while the third candidate Axmed Aadan Buule gave up his ambitions.

Abdiqaadir Hasan Adan the son of presidential candidate and president of South West state Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan sailed through unchallenged as his only opponent Bashir Mohamed Ali dropped from the race.

In Jubbaland, Federal State Minister for Labour Osman Libaah Ibrahim and his Interior counterpart Abdirashid Mohamed Hidig made a comeback to the House while Maryan Aweys Jama, the sister of Presidential spokesman Daud Aweys also secured a seat.

Goobjoog News correspondents in Jubbaland and South West states said the elections went on without any hitches. In Kismayu, the capital of Jubbaland, Somalia security forces, both national and regional forces secured the election centre with the help of Amisom forces.

Somali and Amisom forces manned areas in and around the Presidential palace in Baydhabo the capital of South West state which was the polling centre.

Voting is expected to proceed tomorrow and will run for the next couple of days as South West state aims to elect 69 MPs while Jubbaland will elect 43 MPs.

Meanwhile in Jowhar, the capital of the newly formed HirShabelle state, election of members for the Upper House in the federal Parliament are expected to commence Tuesday evening. Goobjoog News correspondent reports Amisom and Somali forces have put up tight security measures.