Vote Counting Commences in Dhusamareb in Ongoing Presidential Poll

GOOBJOOG NEWS|DHUSAMAREB: Vote counting is underway in Galmudug’s presidential and vice-presidential elections in Dhusamareb, according to information supplied to this newsroom. Official tallies and the outcome could not immediately be independently verified.

Four candidates are competing for the two offices, with the regional parliament choosing the state’s next leadership.

The presidential contest pits Libaan Ahmed Hassan, also known as Libaan Shuluq, of the Justice and Solidarity Party (JSP), against Abdulqadir Abdullahi Diriye of the Sincad political organisation. The vice-presidential candidates are Abdiweli Ibrahim Garyare of JSP and Abdisatar Mohamed Geelle of Sincad, according to a published account of the electoral commission’s candidate list.

The candidates delivered their final campaign speeches before the House of Representatives on Wednesday. Their pledges covered security, public services, education, infrastructure, youth employment and reconciliation, Radio Galgaduud reported.

JSP enters the election with a substantial parliamentary advantage, holding 67 of the assembly’s 89 seats. That majority gives its candidates a strong position, although the outcome must be established through the official results.

The leadership vote follows a disputed parliamentary election process. Somalia’s Supreme Court annulled the July 30 election over constitutional and procedural violations, prompting a rerun on September 30. The Towfiiq political organisation, whose legal challenge led to the annulment, was excluded from the rerun, adding to controversy surrounding the process.

Today’s presidential and vice-presidential elections were scheduled by the National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission following candidate registration on October 19–20 and campaign speeches on October 21.