Baidoa (WDN) – As widely predicted, Adan Mohamed Nur “Madobe”  who continues to cling to the position of Speaker of Somalia’s Federal Parliament despite clear legal and constitutional barriers that prevent him from remaining in office after officially declaring his candidacy for the South West State presidency — has now been declared the winner of a sham election orchestrated under the direct political influence of former President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

Legal and constitutional observers argue that Madobe’s continued hold over the speakership while simultaneously contesting a regional presidency represents a blatant violation of parliamentary norms, institutional neutrality, and the integrity of the office he occupies. Yet, despite these serious concerns, no judicial or institutional challenge was allowed to emerge, reinforcing that Villa Somalia’s total control of South West elections.

For many opposition figures and Somalis, the South West election was never viewed as a genuine democratic contest, but rather as a carefully managed political operation designed to install one of Villa Somalia’s most trusted allies at the helm of a key federal member state.

During the sham election, in a dramatic development that has further intensified scrutiny of South West State’s presidential election, candidate Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden announced his withdrawal from the race while voting was still underway, citing what he described as a deeply flawed electoral process.

Sharif Hassan, one of the leading contenders for the presidency, said he had lost confidence in the integrity of the election after authorities failed to address concerns and complaints that he and his supporters had repeatedly submitted to the electoral committee.

“We waited for two months in the hope of a credible and transparent election. Today, we have lost that hope and have decided to withdraw from the contest,” Sharif Hassan declared. His decision also marks a significant setback for the credibility of an election that has already been overshadowed by political interference, concerns over transparency, and accusations that the process was designed to favor a preferred candidate.

Sharif Hassan’s exit reinforce criticism from opponents who have questioned whether the election was ever a genuinely competitive contest. The departure of a major candidate in the middle of voting raises serious questions about the fairness of the process and the willingness of election officials to address grievances raised by competing candidates.

Meanwhile, reports from the election hall indicated that Mahad Mohamed Sheikh Hassan, Speaker of the South West State Assembly, formally announced Sharif Hassan’s removal from the list of presidential candidates after he failed to appear at the venue.

The development has added a dramatic twist to an election that many view as a critical test of political governance and democratic credibility in South West State. Attention is increasingly focused not only on who emerged but also on whether the outcome will be broadly accepted as legitimate by political stakeholders and the wider public.

For many observers, Sharif Hassan’s withdrawal and Adan Mdabe’s selection is a stark reflection of the growing controversy surrounding one of Somalia’s most closely watched regional elections.

WardheerNews