NEC Forges A Close Working Relationship With Riyale, Proposes A New Timetable Pre-approved By Him

6 May 2008

Reports are coming out that the remaining National Election Commission (NEC) members, all UDUB appointed, have written to the Chairman of the Parliament Abdirahman M. Abdillahi, who has been mediating between the political parties regarding the election schedules. Reports says, the 4 member NEC is seeking to further delay the date for the presidential elections already agreed between them and the three political parties. The NEC is now proposing the new date as January 29th, which they call a “middle ground” between the unlawfully suggested Guurti date of April 2009 and the date when the elections should have been held which is by 14 April of this year. This suggests the new role of the NEC is changing from a neutral agency that discharges its duty in line with the rules, to a one that negotiates a “middle ground” position.

Ironically the report says Riyale has already agreed to that timetable, while the opposition parties are only learning of this new proposal just now. This confirms the already known working relationship between Riyale/UDUB party and the remaining NEC members, all them appointed by Riyale himself, that has now morphed into one that puts the opposition parties in the dark on the issues before they become NEC agenda. Clearly this report, if true, would depict a picture of a neutral agency that has taken the a new role of negotiating on behalf of UDUB party, which will throw into question the integrity of this agency.

Source: Somaliland Org

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