The Union of Candidates has rejected the National Consultative Assembly’s procedure for electing members of parliament which was issued yesterday in a presser following a two day conference in Mogadishu by the heads of federal member state governments, governor of Banadir region and the Prime Minster.
Among the procedures that the national consultative assembly issued for Somalia’s Lower House vote include State Election Implementation Team (SIET) announces the list of the candidates for the seats, Women should attain 30% quotas for the delegates, SEIT selects members of the Civil Society that are part of the delegates among other raft of procedures.
Also discussed was the contentious issue of the Somaliland.
But in a presser issued on Monday, the union of Candidates are opposed to the move calling it ” unconstitutional and the in conflict with the May 27 agreement, which stipulates that elections must be held in a fair, free manner.”
The Union of Candidates has demanded that 135 traditional elders serve as the basis for the selection of delegates to elect members of parliament. The council said it sees the process as a no-brainer election but a nomination.
“The practice of “stealing election ” by the outgoing president would be rejected and we will not allow the national consultative council to disseminate the procedure.” read the statement in part.
“The council sees the process as a matter of choice but with an internal nominee,” the statement said.
BREAKING: The candidates union Council boycotts the new procedure for Lower House election, terming it "unconstitutional" and one that is in conflict with the May 27 agreement , which stipulates the 135 elders serve as the basis for the selection of delegates. pic.twitter.com/aYz1YSD4Il
— Mustaqbal Media (@MediaMustaqbal) August 23, 2021
In the statement they described Civil unrest, loss of public and international trust, and destruction of statehood as dire consequences of electoral fraud.
They proposed seven points, including leaving the communities to select members of parliament, eliminating obstacles to elections and election timing.
“Finally, the council calls on the Somali community and the international community to play their part in ensuring that the elections are free and fair,” the statement concluded.
