UN envoy, Keating in Jowhar for talks over cancelled Lower House poll

UN special envoy Michael Keating is meeting with electoral officials and elders in Jowhar following the cancellation of the vote there by the Federal electoral body owing to a gun fight Friday which injured two people.

Goobjoog News correspondent in Jowhar says the UN chief arrived in Jowhar with the National Intelligence and Security Agency NISA boss General Abdulahi Gafow and will be holding talks with electoral officials and elders over the electoral dispute.

The Federal electoral body FIEIT announced Saturday it was calling off elections in HirShabelle until proper security arrangements were put in place.

Meanwhile our correspondent says elders from Hiiraan region have signed a petition calling for cancellation of a second round of voting and declaring Ahmed sheikh Nur the substantive winner. Nur had got 24 votes in the first round while his erstwhile rival, Youth and Sports Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Nuhu garnered 23.

The minister’s security team is accused of causing fracas and opening fire at delegates of his opponent before a second round vote was called since none of the candidates attained the 50%+1 threshold.

The FIEIT is yet to issue its final verdict on the matter but had earlier called for order and peace while condemning what happened.