NIEBC warns against unverified results as vote counting continues in Galmudug and Hirshabelle

The National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (NIEBC) has warned the public against sharing unconfirmed or false election results as counting continues following voting in Galmudug and Hirshabelle.

NIEBC Deputy Chairman Saadaq Abshir Garaad urged voters, political groups and the wider public to wait for the Commission to announce official results through the established electoral process.

He said the warning was intended to prevent the circulation of inaccurate information while election officials complete the counting and verification of ballots.

Counting has begun in Galmudug, where NIEBC officials at the Commission’s headquarters in Dhusamareeb are sorting and tallying ballots from districts across the state. Representatives of political organisations are observing the process.

The elections held on Wednesday covered both local councils and the Houses of Representatives of Galmudug and Hirshabelle. The vote in Galmudug was a repeat election after the Supreme Court annulled the results of the July 30 poll and ordered a fresh election.

According to NIEBC, voting in Galmudug took place at 178 polling stations across 11 districts, with 267,420 registered voters and 12 political organisations participating. In Hirshabelle, voting was conducted at 103 polling stations across 10 districts, with 152,763 registered voters and 14 political organisations.

Garaad thanked communities in both states for conducting the voting peacefully and commended security forces, election officials, institutions and political party representatives for their role in the process.

He also stressed the importance of respecting electoral laws and procedures as the counting, verification and eventual announcement of results proceed.

The NIEBC has previously said that the elections form part of Somalia’s transition towards a one-person, one-vote electoral system, under which citizens directly elect their representatives.

Mustaqbal