Overseen by the Puntland Electoral Commission (PEC), the constitution represented the final step in the extant regional democratization process and was scheduled to be followed by the formation of political parties.

[5] On 3 December 2013, President Farole nominated a seven-member Vetting and Conflict Resolution Committee and a Secretary to oversee the month's parliamentary selection process ahead of the January 2014 presidential elections.

[8] On 19 December, the Bari region governor Abdisamad Mohamed Galan also indicated that security reinforcements had been sent to Bosaso ahead of the elections to tighten up on safety after a suicide bomber had targeted government forces earlier in the month.

[9] On 11 December 2013, Mohamud Ahmed Hassan, spokesman for the Vetting and Conflict Resolution Committee, announced that the body had begun receiving the list of parliamentary candidates approved by the traditional elders, an admission process that would be open until the 15th.

Between 15 and 25 December, the committee would then start verifying the legislative nominees' credentials, including appraising the authenticity of the candidates' nomination letters and checking to make sure that they had obtained the appropriate elders' signatures.

[11] On 17 December 2013, incumbent President Farole met with the 17 other Puntland presidential contenders at the State House in Garowe, after having extended an invitation to engage in dialogue over the upcoming elections.

The opposition candidates had sought a change in the committee's composition under the belief that three of the body's seats had been given to individuals who had previously run for Puntland president in the 2008 regional elections.

Former Puntland Security Minister, Abdullahi Saed Samatar, who was acting as the opposition candidates' chairman, subsequently called on the region's traditional elders and Islamic scholars to serve as mediators in the continuing talks.

[12][13] On 20 December 2013, the Puntland authorities announced that the formal mediation process between the presidential contenders had begun, with prominent traditional leaders brokering the private meetings in Garowe.

New command centers were also reportedly slated to be set up in Garowe's neighborhoods, and security is to be tightened around the Puntland Parliament building where the presidential election is scheduled to take place.

The opposition spokesman Ali Haji Warsame also indicated that the contenders would work closely with the election security head, Puntland defense forces General Hirsi.

Among other things, it reminded the presidential contenders that they should campaign responsibly, avoid making unrealistic or false promises, uphold Puntland's previous agreements, policies and legislations that did not contravene Islamic principles, acknowledge the election result, and aim to work in the public interest.

The scholars also encouraged the Titled Elders (Issimo) to work together in accordance with their acknowledged role as an authority in Puntland, and urged the public toward piety and unity.

[17] On 29 December 2013, incumbent President of Puntland Abdirahman Farole and his predecessor Mohamud Muse Hersi (Adde) met privately at the State House in Garowe to discuss the 2014 election process.

Hersi subsequently announced at a joint press conference attended by Puntland Security Committee chairman Said Dheere and Nuradin Aden Dirie, senior adviser to UN Special Envoy to Somalia Ambassador Nicholas Kay, that the two presidential leaders agreed that credible elections would be held and that both averred to work with the victorious candidate.

The following day, Puntland presidential contender Ali Abdi Aware indicated in a joint press statement issued on behalf of all the opposition candidates that they were satisfied with the outcome of the parliamentary selection process.

Yusuf Abshir Adami briefed the attendees about the MP selection process, stating that his panel had endeavoured to choose the lawmakers with the objective of long-term sustainability.

[21] On 3 January 2014, the campaign trail intensified as the incumbent and opposition candidates each began holding private meetings with the newly appointed legislators in order to secure supporters.

The Election Committee, a parliamentary body chaired by lawmaker Saadiq Abshir Garaad, subsequently announced that MPs Shire and Hersi were the leading vote-getters during the first round ballot, with each receiving 17 votes.

In his acceptance speech, Shire thanked the MPs who had voted for him, commended the Puntland security forces on their work, and asked the present legislators to cooperate with him as he had pledged to do with them had he lost.

He also noted the important role played by the traditional elders in choosing the legislators, and paid tribute to the security forces for maintaining law and order.

Additionally, Mohamud thanked the presidential contenders for having peacefully campaigned, reminded them of their responsibilities as prospective office-holders, and urged them to recognize the election result and support the incoming administration.

[31] The election committee then set a presentation limit of 15 minutes per contender during which the candidates detailed their political programs, explaining why they believed their respective platform was better suited for the region than that of the incumbent administration.

Additional Puntland troops were deployed throughout Garowe, including special security forces to patrol the streets and conduct searches in residential areas and along the city's main arteries.

[37] Concurrently, parliament elected Abdihakim Abdullahi Haji Omar as Puntland's new vice president in place of the incumbent Abdisamad Ali Shire.

Farole also reminded Ali of the responsibility now bestowed upon him as leader, urging the new President-elect to prioritize Puntland's interests and calling on all government officials, workers and security forces to cooperate with the region's new leadership.

The association counts over 200 members and represents the incumbent Puntland government, including Vice President Abdisamad Ali Shire and the state Ministers.

Named the Union of the People of the Regions or UPR (Ururka Gobolada Umadaha Bahoobey or UGUB), it is led by the former Governor of Sanaag, Mohamed Saeed Nuur Dabeyl.

Noting that Puntland was spearheading Somalia's ongoing federalization, Kay hailed the region's MPs, Speaker and traditional leaders for their respective roles in the election process.

McAnulty also paid tribute to Farole for his many achievements during his tenure, including his emphasis on security and his key role in the Roadmap federal transition process.