By Abdirahman Mohamed Dirye
HARGEISA (Somalilandsun) – On his return from Addis Ababa where he met Ethiopian high officials, Abdirahman Irro of Wadani Party Leader as well as the Speaker of Somaliland Parliament spoke of election issues remaining outstanding so far.
“The world and Somaliland public, I think, are (anxiously) awaiting the elections to hold. When the government will hold the elections? People ask.” he said ” to my knowledge, according to the constitution, registration of adult voters precede the elections, however; that process reached remarkable phase because all stakeholders involved , but two issues remain outstanding so far: amendment of earlier Registration Act and its approval, the earlier Act was just asking for fingerprint but today the eye identification is added the ( registration) process as requirement. Government has to approve the new Act in order to make elections happen; the lawmaking body will finish its part too, but still lays pending” Head of legislature said.
The other unresolved issue is the current National Election Commission (NEC) and whether its term be extended or come up with different unified idea to replace the commission, however; the international community expects us to figure it out and it’s the responsibility of the government to do so. He stated during press conference in Egal Airport International’s Lounge.
He also satirized government’s prevention of people to join Wadani Party for they were “Habar” referring to the blockade on tribal reasons and Kulmiye’s naked clannish policies that replaced the national polity. Moreover, He emphasized the nationals’ right to join whatsoever party they want or they are very much in common or identify with its ideologies or happy with its manifesto, not clannish belongingness or ethnicities! “They can switch parties as much as they wish” he said.
He concluded his press conference at the Airport that the world as well as Somaliland is hopeful of registration to start on September without any further (or unnecessary) delays.
