The President of the regional state of Puntland has come out strongly to oppose the calls for indirect elections.
President Said Abdullahi Deni said that he would not heed the request by traditional elders for Puntland to hold indirect polls.
He delivered his speech following a meeting between the elders in Garowe over the past few days.
A suggestion by 28 traditional elders asked authorities to consider Members of Parliament (MPs). The MPs would then elect the regional President and Vice President.
As per their suggestion, the lawmakers would also elect parliamentary leadership.
President Deni expressed his opposition to such plans. Instead, he desires to see regional voters electing their leaders through the one-person-one-vote (1P1V) system.