By Suleiman Sabdow
Puntland – Voting in many districts of Puntland State of Somalia is currently underway as long queues of residents in polling stations seen in many parts of Ufeyn district heralding the first time a popular vote is taking place in the Horn of Africa State since 50 years ago.
Residents of Ufeyn, Eyl and Qardho distrcts will be the first to cast their ballot in Puntland’s local elections. There are a total of 54 polling stations open to serve just under 40,000 registered voters.
Security has been beefed up in all the centres where the voting will take place with more than 37 thousands people will be casting their votes in various polling centres as groups of nternational observers will be closely monitoring the exercise.
Qardho town has 20,620 registers voters, Eyl has 8,671 and 8,287 voters will vote in Ufeyn.
Puntland State president Said Abdullahi Deni has already cast his votes as he championed for his coalition to emerge the winner of the elections.
Puntland State leader Said Abdullahi Deni casts his vote. Photo / Courtesy
In a statement Puntland’s Transitional Electoral Commission (TPEC) stated that the polls will be open from 6 am to 6 pm and are accessible to disabled voters.
They also assured residents of their security warning any one with I’ll motive that the long arm of the law will catch them.The commission also called on voters to carry their vital documents for voting.
Voting?️is smoothly underway at all polling stations in #Qardho, #Eyl and #Ufeyn.
⏰Polling stations opened at 6:00 am local time and will close at 6:00 pm.#PLGE #PuntlandElections #1P1V pic.twitter.com/cF06z2Ej3G
— TPEC (@TPECPuntland) October 25, 2021
A total of 449 candidates will be contesting for 87 local council seats.
Swedish embassy in Somalia says it is facilitating the elections of the regional State with its observers stationed in various electoral centres in a bid to oversee the exercise which is first is its kind since five decades ago.
Historic day as first phase of local elections in Puntland gets underway with support from amongst others @Sida. @Swedeninsomalia present observing alongside colleagues from @FBAFolke and others the work done by @TPECPuntland #PuntlandElections #PuntlandElection #PuntlandVotes pic.twitter.com/VwPqh4S388
— Sweden in Somalia (@SwedeninSomalia) October 25, 2021
The exercise is scheduled to come to an end this evening when polling centres will close and counting of votes expected to commence thereafter.
