Madobe returns 12 years after ouster in dramatic late night vote, dampens Farmaajo’s prospects

By T. Roble

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: Veteran politician and one time Speaker of parliament Adan Mohamed Nuur Madobe has returned to the chamber as speaker of the Lower House over a decade since his ouster from the same seat in a hotly contested overnight election that dealt a blow to outgoing President Mohamed Farmaajo following the defeat of his preferred candidate.

Adan Madobe, as he is popularly known trounced his erstwhile Villa Somalia-backed opponent Hassan Abdi Nur in the second round by 163 votes to 89 opening a wide lead in one of the bitterly contested elections that almost unravelled the whole electoral process following a whole day stand off.

Abdi Nur trail blazed with 97 votes in the second round as Madobe came second with 76 votes. But the second round proved a tall order for Farmaajo’s preferred candidate after the opposition marshalled the numbers in the second round signalling how the presidential vote will take shape.

All the other four candidates combined got 76 votes in the first round in an exercise which saw the participation of 252 MPs after the 16 MPs from Gedo region were locked out from the contest following an evening deal that unclocked the stalemate.

FARMAAJO LOSS

Madobe’s win is yet another blow to Farmaajo who was banking on the crucial House leadership vote to change his fortunes as he heads to the ballot in the coming weeks to defend his seat. South West state President Adiasis Lafta Gareen, a close ally of Farmaajo had initially sought to bar Madobe from contesting as MPs in Baidoa after he successfully blocked former speaker Professor Osman Jawari.

The election of the Lower House speaker has historically been considered crucial in the presidential elections in Somalia since MPs, alongside senators elect a President. The speaker’s sway is therefore considered crucial by candidates.

Madobe joined the Transitional Federal Government in January 2005 as Justice Minister and was later elected speaker of the Transitional Federal Parliament in January 30, 2007 following the removal of then speaker Sharif Sheikh Adan, also from South West. He served until May 2010 when he resigned following a rift with then Prime Minister Omar Sharmarke.