Towfiiq Party Rejects Galmudug Election Results, Demands Independent Review

DHUSAMAREB — The Towfiiq Political Party has formally rejected the final results of the Galmudug State local council and parliamentary elections, which were announced by the National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (NIEBC) on August 3, 2026. In an official statement, the party declared the outcome invalid, alleging widespread irregularities, violence, and the exclusion of its representatives from polling stations.

The party’s chairman, Sheikh Mohamed Shakir Ali Hassan, described the electoral process as deeply flawed and called for an independent review of the results. “What happened is not something we are satisfied with, not something we expected, and not something we accept as political organizations,” Sheikh Shakir said. “We organized and worked for a free and fair election based on one person, one vote. But an election where people are killed, wounded, and their votes suppressed is not one we can stand for.”

Sheikh Shakir had previously raised concerns about irregularities as vote counting continued, accusing security forces of interfering in the process and alleging that some party agents were arrested or prevented from carrying out their responsibilities on election day.

Official Statement and Rejection of Results

In a formal statement issued on August 3, 2026, the Towfiiq Party declared that it “strongly opposes and rejects the legitimacy” of the election results announced by NIEBC Chairman Abdikarim Ahmed Hassan. The party expressed deep concern over the negative impact the election would have on the people of Galmudug, stating that the process had “undermined the one-person, one-vote system” and was “inferior to the 4.5 clan-based elections” that preceded it.

The statement further alleged that “mismanagement and the flawed process affected 99 percent of the entire election process and outcome,” eroding public confidence in the one-person, one-vote system. “The vote of the Somali people is a trust and cannot be manipulated or managed outside the law,” the statement read. “The people expected a fair result, free from bias and manipulation. That is not reflected in the Galmudug election results announced today, and accepting them would damage the country’s democratic process.”

The party called on the electoral commission and all relevant parties to “suspend this decision and conduct an independent review of the results and votes from the 11 districts to protect the true will of the people.”

Towfiiq’s Claims vs. Official Results

According to the NIEBC, the Towfiiq Party secured 49 seats in the local council elections and 12 seats in the regional parliament, placing it second behind the Justice and Solidarity Party (JSP), which won 115 local council seats and 63 parliamentary seats. However, Towfiiq has disputed these figures, claiming that its own records from polling station observers tell a different story.

The party asserted that in the regional parliament election, 58,519 voters cast their ballots, with 987 invalid votes. Towfiiq claimed it received 53,054 votes, which it said would entitle it to 47 of the 89 parliamentary seats. In the local council elections, the party claimed it received 54,064 votes, which it said would entitle it to 104 of the 243 local council seats.

The NIEBC’s official results, however, gave Towfiiq 26,063 votes (13.61 percent) in the local council elections and 12 parliamentary seats. The wide discrepancy between the party’s claims and the commission’s figures underscores the depth of the dispute.

The NIEBC has defended its results, which show the JSP winning a landslide victory with 106,388 votes (55.55 percent) in the local council elections and 63 parliamentary seats. The commission has not responded to Towfiiq’s specific allegations or its call for an independent review.

Broader Context and Allegations of Federal Interference

The electoral dispute is the latest chapter in a long-running political crisis in Galmudug. A deep rift between President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and NISA Director Mahad Mohamed Salad over Galmudug leadership had already cast a shadow over the electoral process. The president designated Liban Ahmed Hassan as the sole candidate for the JSP, bypassing internal party competition and raising concerns about the independence of the electoral process.

The electoral commission had rejected calls from political parties to delay the vote, despite concerns that the compressed campaign period disadvantaged candidates lacking resources and federal backing.

The Tawfiq Party had launched its campaign in Hobyo earlier this month, positioning itself as a significant challenger in the Galmudug political landscape. The party had previously enjoyed success in the Banadir regional local council elections in December 2025, securing 49 seats in the capital’s local councils.

Critical Note

The Towfiiq Party’s rejection of the Galmudug election results represents a significant challenge to the credibility of Somalia’s transition to direct democratic representation. While the party’s allegations of irregularities and federal interference have not been independently verified, the wide discrepancy between its claimed results and the NIEBC’s official figures demands scrutiny. The electoral commission’s refusal to extend the campaign period and the federal government’s heavy-handed role in designating a single candidate for the ruling party have already raised serious questions about the independence and fairness of the process. The commission’s failure to address Towfiiq’s specific claims transparently risks further eroding public confidence in electoral institutions. Without a credible, independent review of the alleged irregularities, the Galmudug elections risk being remembered not as a milestone for democracy, but as another example of political manipulation in Somalia’s federal member states. The international community would be well advised to press for accountability and transparency, lest the credibility of Somalia’s broader democratic transition be permanently damaged.