Former Garissa Deputy Speaker wins Masalani Ward seat
IEBC Commissioner Abdi Guliye speaking after announcement of results of Masalani Ward by-election on November 7, 2017. He called on the winner, Abubakar Mohamed Shide, to unite residents divided by political campaigns. PHOTO | ABDIMALIK HAJIR | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Mr Shide garnered 2,922 votes against his close rival, Mr Suleiman Abdullahi, Muktar who managed to get 2,870 votes.
- IEBC Commissioner Abdi Guliye said the winner has a huge responsibility to bring together all residents.
- Prof Guliye said political competition should not be divisive but for development.
Former Garissa Deputy Speaker Abubakar Mohamed Shide has won the Masalani Ward seat in by-election that involved behind the scenes powerful political leaders in the county.
Ijara IEBC Returning Officer Farah Abdi Ibrahim declared Mr Shide winner, having garnered 2,922 votes against his close rival, Mr Suleiman Abdullahi, Muktar who managed to get 2,870 votes.
The November 7 by-election was held following the death of ANC candidate Ibrahim Abdullahi in a road accident 33 days to August 8 elections.
Senior IEBC officials including Commissioner Abdi Guliye and Acting CEO Hussein Marjan were overseeing the ward election.
UNITE RESIDENTS
Speaking after the announcement of the results, Commissioner Guliye said the winner has a huge responsibility to bring together all residents, saying the elections have divided people a lot.
While referring to incidents where an elder was stabbed and seriously injured during the election Prof Guliye said political competition should not be divisive but for development.
HOTLY CONTESTED
"It is unfortunate and embarrassing [for people to fight] because of an MCA seat. This shows how the seat was hotly contested and as a result people were so divided and the winner should work extra hard to bring [them] together," he said.
The ward by-election was a close competition with Ijara MP Sophia Abdinoor and her close political rival, Ahmed Ibrahim Abass, who is the Garissa County Assembly Speaker, trying to test their influence in the constituency.
The constituency is regarded as swing vote area and therefore the ward by-election attracted senior politicians in the county with Deputy Governor Abdi Dagane being the face of Mr Shide’s campaigns.
