Somaliland’s opposition leaders are backing postponement of presidential election according to UCID party chairman Faysal Ali Waraabe who spoke to Barkhad Mohamed Kariye of VOA yesterday following a consultative meeting between NEC and national parties in Hargeisa.
“UCID’s position is clear- the election cannot take place in March as 70% of voters in eastern regions will not be able to get their voter cards because of wide and severe droughts. Waddani party shares this position with us but Muuse (the chairman of the ruling party) thinks it can be held” Faysal said.
He went on to say “I am disappointed that Kulmiye is campaigning while our people are suffering. How on earth could they think that election can take place under such circumstances. If I were the President, the country would have been in a state of emergency by now, let alone holding election.”
The chairman of Waddani, Somaliland’s main opposition party, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillaahi “Irro” who also gave interview to VOA on Saturday said that his party believes all citizens have the right to participate in the election.
“We believe that every citizen has the right to get a voter card and participate in the election. We also believe that the current drought conditions should be considered” Chairman Irro said.
However, the spokesman of the ruling party Hassan Gaafaadhi, in a press conference on Saturday, ruled out postponement of the presidential election.
“National Electoral Commission informed us today that they are fully prepared to hold the election on 28th March. They are going to start distribution of voter cards on 21st January in two provinces” Gaafaadhi said.
NEC and national parties are again to meet this week to seek common ground in relation to presidential election schedule.
Bandhige Staff Writers
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