The Chairman of the ruling party Mr. Muse Biihi Abdi who is also the presidential candidate for his party told local media on Monday in Hargeisa that Kulmiye government will not seek term extension for President Silanyo.
“Our party is not ready for term extension. We are fully prepared for the upcoming elections and as you all know President Silanyo reiterated several times that both elections (presidential and parliamentary) will take place on time” Mr. Biihi said.
“Kulmiye is the only political party that has so far nominated presidential candidates for the election, which shows that our party is more prepared than any other party” he added.
Mr. Biihi mentioned rumors that President Silanyo is pushing term extension are baseless and that President Silanyo chose not to run for a next term though he had the opportunity to do so as per Kulmiye party constitution. He also accused the Chairman of House of Representatives Mr. Abdirahman Irro, who is also the Chairman and presumptive candidate for Waddani party, of failing to draft and pass the House of Representative election law which is likely to be obstacle to the election.
There have been widespread speculations over the past two weeks that the Presidency is planning to get term extension for President Silanyo with the justification that the law for the election of House of Representatives has not yet been drafted and that National Electoral Commission “NEC” might not be able to hold elections on 27th March due to schedule and logistical challenges.
President Silanyo was elected in 2010 and got controversial term extension of 18 months in May 2015.
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