Kismayu—The presidential election in the federal administration of Jubbaland begun in earnest Saturday morning with the four contestants present at the centre where the local assembly members have turned out in their numbers to cast their ballot. Ahmed Mohamed Islam alias Ahmed Madobe has emerged victorious in the battle-out. He received 68 out of the 72 votes cast.
He was followed in distance by Hilowle Adan Mohamed and Osman Hussein Fayrus both garnered two votes while Mohamed Osman Yusuf received none of cast ballots.
The centre where the election is taking place has been placed under high security with hundreds of security officers deployed to maintain order and shrug off any attempted attack by the militant group Al Shabab who were expelled from the port city of Kismayu by the Kenyan Defense Forces with the backing of Ahmed Madobe forces in 2012. The loss of the port city has dealt a blow to the group who are now faced with shrinking territory as the African Union forces continue to push back the group.
The members of the Jubbaland assembly are representing the Jubbaland residents. The election is through a secret ballot.
The candidates have yesterday taken time to address the assembly with each contestant laying his or her manifestos. The election observers projected that Ahmed Madobe would retain the seat.
