Third and the final round of Lower House Deputy Speakers’ election kicks off in Mogadishu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first round of voting by the members of Somalia Parliament concluded a few minutes earlier with two candidates qualified (each of the first and second deputy speakers) for the third round.

Over 259 parliament members have cast their votes among six candidates for 1st deputy speaker.

President’s ally Farah Abdulkadir who vying for the first deputy speaker of the parliament got 94 votes, Abdiweli Sheikh Ibrahim Muday managed to scored 111 votes, Khadija Mohamed Diriye secured 26 votes, Khalid Maow Abdikadir 7 votes  and Saeed Hussein Eid 17.

Other ten candidates, among them Abdullahi Godah Barre who served as Interior Minister and Mahad Abdalla Awad, former Second Deputy Speaker of the 9th Parliament contested for the second Deputy Speaker, no one secured 51% votes thus the commission announced another round for the top four candidates for both seats.

Before the house sit for the next round, four candidates including two candidates for 1st deputy speaker and two for 2nd have drop their bids for the post.

According the procedures, if the candidates failed to secured the required votes 51%, a second round participated by the four top candidates would be announced.

But if the two among the four top candidates announced for the second round, withdraw, the electoral commission skips second round thus they announce the third round automatically.

The election is taking place at the Parliament hall in the capital under a tight security as the main streets of Mogadishu are blocked by government forces for the second consecutive day due to the elections.