Galmudug parliamentary election under fire: Opposition critics say key winners were known before voting

Dhusamareb (WDN) — What is being presented as an election for the leadership of Galmudug’s parliament has drawn criticism from opponents who argue that the outcome was largely settled before voting began, with the process resembling a formal confirmation of political arrangements already established behind the scenes.

The election for speaker and two deputy speakers of the Galmudug House of Representatives is scheduled to take place today in Dhusamareb, the regional capital. Four candidates have been registered for the three positions, according to the National Independent Electoral Commission.

Two candidates are contesting the speakership, representing the Justice and Solidarity Party (JSP) and the SINCAD political organisation. The two deputy-speaker positions, however, each have only one registered candidate, both from JSP. With no rival candidates registered for those posts, the deputy speakers are effectively uncontested.

The composition of the parliament has added to questions about the competitiveness of the process. Critics say JSP secured 69 of the assembly’s 85 seats in earlier local elections conducted under an electoral process they allege was controlled by the president’s party and its associated electoral commission. That claim is confirmed through independent scrutiny, and if substantiated, it would help explain why the ruling party enters the parliamentary leadership contest with such a substantial advantage.

Election or formal confirmation?

Opponents argue that the real contest was decided before the parliamentary vote, when the assembly’s composition and party balance were established. They contend that the current proceedings are unlikely to produce a meaningful change in the distribution of power.

The uncontested deputy-speaker positions reinforce that criticism. Although the speakership has two candidates, the absence of competition for the other posts raises questions about how much genuine political choice the process offers.

Some critics maintain that the leading candidates and likely winners were widely anticipated at least a week before the vote. That assertion has not been independently verified, and the official results will determine who is formally elected. Nevertheless, the limited number of candidates and JSP’s reported parliamentary majority have fuelled doubts about the level of competition.

The wider issue is whether the electoral arrangements have provided a fair opportunity for political alternatives to emerge—or whether earlier decisions have effectively predetermined the outcome.

The next stage: choosing Galmudug’s president

Once the parliamentary leadership election concludes, attention is expected to turn to preparations for the election of Galmudug’s president and vice-president.

The speaker’s election is therefore more than a contest for parliamentary offices. The leadership of the assembly could influence the political environment in which the region’s next executive leadership is selected.

For critics, the central concern is that an electoral process cannot be considered genuinely competitive merely because ballots are cast. Its credibility also depends on how candidates are selected, how the assembly is constituted, whether opponents can compete on fair terms and whether the outcome reflects a meaningful choice.

Galmudug’s parliamentary vote may formally determine who occupies the assembly’s top positions, but the deeper test is whether the process commands public confidence. Where most positions are uncontested and one party holds a dominant majority, authorities face a clear challenge in demonstrating that the election is more than a confirmation of an outcome shaped in advance.

The commission’s published candidate list and official results, alongside independent evidence about the earlier local elections, will be essential to assessing the fairness and credibility of the process.

WardheerNews