The Somali National Independent Electoral Commission wants the country to move beyond the traditional elders’ way of electoral process, Radio Dalsan reports.
Speaking at the board’s consultative meeting with the Banadir region’s women in Mogadishu on Sunday, chairperson of the NIEC Mrs Halima Ismail Ibrahim said women should take part in the realization of ‘one person, one vote’ in 2020.
“We want to move beyond the 30% and the elder’s way of election. If we work hard and hold each other’s hands, we can overcome the challenges and get what we want,” said Mrs Ibrahim.
A delegation from the electoral body led by Mrs Ibrahim has been going around the country to consult with citizens on how to make the 2020 polls happen as planned.
“We have visited 20 big towns in different parts of the country,” Mrs Ibrahim said.
In a bid to actualize the idea, the board made sure that the consultation process is all-inclusive.
“We divided the consultation process with the people of Banadir region into three parts series. Part one is the women and we are here today in a meeting. We want women in Banadir region to be involved in the decision-making process,” said the electoral boss.
“Tomorrow on February 20 we will be meeting with the youth. And then followed by that of the politicians, traditional elders and religious scholars on February 23,” added Mrs Ibrahim.
If realized, the ‘one person, one vote’ poll system will give the Somali people a golden chance to elect their own preferred leaders who will represent them in the national politics.
The public is also expected to get the opportunity to hold their leaders accountable to them.
