Baidoa (WDN)- Reports emerging from Baidoa indicate that the controversial one-sided electoral process backed by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in parts of South West State has taken a dramatic turn, with former South West leader Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden reportedly securing victories across major towns in the Bay and Lower Shabelle regions.

According to local sources, Sharif Hassan is said to have emerged victorious in key districts including Baidoa, Buur Hakaba, Afgooye, Qansaxdheere, Diinsoor iyo Baraawe. Meanwhile, Speaker of Parliament Adan Mohamed Nur Madobe, widely viewed as President Hassan Sheikh’s candidate in the process, reportedly managed to secure victory only in Wajid.

However, the unfolding vote has now been overshadowed by serious allegations of electoral manipulation and vote tampering. Speaking to WardheerNews, Siyaad Sheekh Daahir, a former member of the technical committee that helped establish the South West administration, alleged that “officials linked to the electoral commission are preparing to manipulate the final tally in favor of Adan Madobe.”

According to Siyaad, the plan involves artificially inflating vote totals to declare Adan Madobe the winner despite what he described as an already clear outcome on the ground favoring Sharif Hassan. He further alleged that the electoral process had been politically engineered from the outset to deliver a predetermined result aligned with Villa Somalia’s broader political agenda.

Sharif Hassan also weighed in on the dispute, accusing electoral authorities of widespread fraud and manipulation during the vote-counting process. He warned that the ongoing tallying lacks transparency and that the final results would have little public credibility if the alleged irregularities continue.

The escalating tensions surrounding the South West vote come amid broader political controversy over President Hassan Sheikh’s push for a unilateral “one-person, one-vote” electoral framework. The initiative used is not a genuine democratization process, but a political strategy to consolidate influence over regional administrations in South West State, Hirshabelle State, and Galmudug State ahead of a potential bid by Hassan Sheikh to secure a third term as President of Somalia.

Many citizens and analyst warn that these developments could further plunge the country into political instability, insecurity, economic collapse, and widespread displacement.

WardheerNews