South West Presidential Race Thrown into Turmoil as Candidates Boycott Election Process Over Alleged Irregularities

Baidoa(WDN) – The credibility of the South West State presidential election suffered a major blow on the eve of voting after two leading candidates dramatically withdrew from key stages of the electoral process, citing what they described as serious violations that have undermined the integrity, transparency, and independence of the election.

At a hastily convened press conference, presidential candidate’s Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden and Abdiaziz Mohamed Sheikh Osman, son of former Speaker of the Federal Parliament Mohamed Sheikh Osman Jawari, announced that they would boycott the official campaign speeches scheduled for today and distance themselves from what they described as a deeply compromised electoral process.

Their decision has intensified concerns that the election may be heading toward a predetermined outcome rather than a genuine democratic contest. The candidates accused organizers of presiding over a process plagued by conflicts of interest and practices that threaten the secrecy of the ballot, one of the most fundamental principles of any credible election.

At the center of their criticism is Speaker of the Federal Parliament Sheikh Aden Mohamed Nur (Aden Madobe), who is himself a candidate for the presidency of South West State. According to the two candidates, Aden Madobe’s refusal to step down from his powerful federal position while simultaneously contesting the regional presidency raises serious questions about the neutrality of the election and the fairness of the playing field.