Record nine candidates withdraw as Puntland elects all 11 senators
GOOBJOOG NEWS|GAROWE: A record nine candidates pulled out of the Puntland senatorial elections leaving only two candidates to face off with their opponents.
Even those who faced their rivals had an easy ride winning with wide margins. The withdrawal saw the exercise concluded by early afternoon unlike the case in South West which lasted into the evening with only six candidates being elected.
Veteran politician Abdirahman Faroole got 54 votes against his opponent Mohamed Olaad who got 11 votes only while Abdiqani Gelleh Mohamed trounced his opponent Abdikar Mohamed Yusuf by garnering 52 votes.
All the other nine candidates received all the 65 votes by show of hands after their rivals withdrew from the race. Three women were elected now adding to five the number of female senators. Two were elected from South-West state last week.
Below is the full list of the Puntland senators-elect:
- Abdirahman Faroole
- Mohamed Abdi Osman “Majino”
- Abdullahi Ali Hirsi “Timacade”
- Abdisamad Yusuf Mohamed
- Senator Farhan Ali Hussein
- Zaynab Ismail Mohamed
- Abdiqani Guelleh Mohamed
- Samiro Mohamud Haji Awad
- Major General Mohamed Hassan “Jeyte”
- Mohamed Ali Gagaab
- Sareedo Mohamed Hassan