Baidoa(WDN) – The credibility of the South West State presidential election suffered a major blow on the eve of voting after two leading candidates dramatically withdrew from key stages of the electoral process, citing what they described as serious violations that have undermined the integrity, transparency, and independence of the election.

At a hastily convened press conference, presidential candidate’s Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden and Abdiaziz Mohamed Sheikh Osman, son of former Speaker of the Federal Parliament Mohamed Sheikh Osman Jawari, announced that they would boycott the official campaign speeches scheduled for today and distance themselves from what they described as a deeply compromised electoral process.

Their decision has intensified concerns that the election may be heading toward a predetermined outcome rather than a genuine democratic contest. The candidates accused organizers of presiding over a process plagued by conflicts of interest and practices that threaten the secrecy of the ballot, one of the most fundamental principles of any credible election.

At the center of their criticism is Speaker of the Federal Parliament Sheikh Aden Mohamed Nur (Aden Madobe), who is himself a candidate for the presidency of South West State. According to the two candidates, Aden Madobe’s refusal to step down from his powerful federal position while simultaneously contesting the regional presidency raises serious questions about the neutrality of the election and the fairness of the playing field.

They argued that no candidate should be allowed to retain such a high-ranking constitutional office while competing in an election that requires public confidence in its independence and impartiality. However, the most alarming allegation raised by the candidates concerns the voting process itself.

Sharif Hassan and Abdiaziz Jawari alleged that members of parliament participating in the election had been instructed to photograph their ballot papers after voting. If true, such a practice would effectively destroy the secrecy of the ballot and open the door to political pressure, vote monitoring, and coercion.

Election experts have long argued that secret balloting exists precisely to protect voters from intimidation and retaliation. Any attempt to verify how individual lawmakers cast their votes would fundamentally undermine the independence of the electoral process.

The allegations have fueled growing concerns among opposition figures who argue that the election risks becoming an exercise in political control rather than democratic choice. Forcing lawmakers to prove how they voted would transform parliamentarians from independent representatives into subjects of political surveillance, creating conditions in which loyalty can be monitored and dissent punished.

The boycott by two prominent candidates is likely to deepen questions about the legitimacy of the outcome, regardless of who emerges victorious. The controversy comes as candidates were expected to present their visions and campaign platforms before lawmakers ahead of the vote. Instead, the election has become overshadowed by accusations of procedural manipulation, institutional conflicts of interest, and alleged attempts to influence voting behavior behind closed doors.

Neither election officials nor supporters of Aden Madobe had immediately responded to the allegations at the time of publication.With the election proceeding according to schedule despite the boycott, attention is now shifting from the contest itself to the credibility of the process.

What was intended to showcase a democratic transfer of power is increasingly being viewed through the lens of controversy, with opposition candidates warning that an election conducted under conditions of alleged ballot surveillance and unequal competition risks eroding public confidence in South West State’s democratic institutions.

As voting day approaches, the central question is no longer simply who will win the presidency, but whether the result will command the legitimacy and trust necessary to govern a politically divided state.

WardheerNews