Ten MPs elected in day one of elections in Puntland

Ten members of the Lower House were elected Saturday in Puntland two votes shy of the target in an exercise which is expected to elect 35 MPs.

The vote for two MPs was postponed to Sunday as delegates left the polling stations late afternoon, Goobjoog News correspondents in the capital Garowe report.

Security was tight in all election centres and nearby areas. Our correspondents said at four check points were set up in most of the election centres to ensure any cases of insecurity were dealt with.

In one of the centres, East Africa University, a former intelligence officer who is reported to have been fired recently took by force a vehicle belonging to Puntland Intelligence Service but security forces managed to get it back.

A total of 612 delegates were expected to participate in the exercise with each MP being elected by 51 delegates.

Former deputy interior minister of Puntland Ali Yussuf Hosh was the first to be elected in a last slide vote garnering 49 votes out of 51. One delegate did not turn up meaning Hosh missed only one vote.

The other MPs elected are as follows:

1. Said Dahir——-44 votes
2. Omar Ismail Wabri—–28 votes
3. Elmi Omar Aysane ——–27 votes
4. Ahmed Ismail Mohammed—38 votes
5. Mohamoud Hayer——38 votes
6. Abdinasir Said Muse—- 36 votes
7. Dahir Haji Geelle——- 46 votes
8. Abdirashid Mohammed Hassan Abdi—- 27
9. Ali Farah Dahir—-42

Voting will continue Sunday.