Wednesday, June 10, 2026 (Baidoa Online) -Former Southwest State President Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden has announced his withdrawal from the ongoing presidential election in Baidoa, declaring that he no longer considers the process to be a credible or genuine election.
Speaking to supporters and the media, Sharif Hassan said his camp had spent the past two months awaiting what they hoped would be a transparent and fair electoral process.
“We waited for a credible election for two months, but today we have lost hope,” he said.
Sharif Hassan further criticized the conduct of the election, alleging that the process had been reduced to what he described as a “one-man election.”
“We are no longer part of this election. What is taking place in Baidoa is a one-man election, where one person is selecting another. They are trying to hide what is really happening here,” he stated.
His withdrawal comes as members of the Southwest State Parliament continue voting to elect the region’s next president. The election has drawn significant political attention, with observers closely monitoring developments amid growing concerns and competing claims regarding the integrity of the process.
Despite Sharif Hassan’s exit from the race, voting remains underway at the election venue in Baidoa as lawmakers cast their ballots to determine the leadership of Southwest State for the next five years.