MOGADISHU — Somalia’s Supreme Court has annulled the results of the election held in Galmudug and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct a fresh vote.

Announcing the ruling, Chief Justice Bashe Yusuf Ahmed said the Court had identified serious procedural irregularities that could not be remedied without rerunning the election.

He said the manner in which the poll was conducted had undermined public confidence in the integrity of the electoral process. Following a comprehensive review of the case, the Court determined that invalidating the results and holding a new election was the only appropriate course of action.

Several political organisations that contested the Galmudug election had earlier rejected the preliminary results announced by the National Electoral Commission. The groups subsequently called for peaceful demonstrations to voice their objections and demand that their concerns be addressed.