2022 Imrulian presidential election

2022 Imrulian presidential election

29 December 2022
Opinion polls
Registered	82
Turnout	78.05%
Candidate Fokhrul Sazzad Ishtiak Mahfuz Abdullah Tanha Shafiq Bhuiyan Popular vote 24 23 12 Percentage 37.50% 35.94% 18.75%
President before election Showib Ahmmed President after election Fokhrul Sazzad

A presidential election of the Republic Kingdom of Imruland was held on 29 December 2022. This was the first presidential election in the country. The schedule of the election was announced on 24 December 2022 by President Showib Ahmmed. Vice President Fokhrul Sazzad defeated Defense Minister Ishtiak Mahfuz Abdullah by only one vote.

Background

The Republic of Imruland made a transition in ruling system from republic to constitutional monarchy on 23 December 2022 as the Republic Kingdom of Imruland. President Imrul Kayes proclaimed himself as the King of Imruland. Former Vice President Showib Ahmmed was appointed as president to arrange the election. This was the first election in the country. There were no political parties in Imruland. No one was allowed to participate in the election from a political party. All had to contest as independent candidates.

Schedule

The schedule of the election was announced by President Showib Ahmmed on 24 December 2022 in an address to the nation on the Imruland Television (ITV). He announced to hold elections on December 30, 2022 but the schedule was changed next day and the election was arranged on December 29. Last date for submission of nomination of candidates was 26 December. Scrutiny of nominations took place on 27th and all nominations were declared valid. Last date for withdrawal of candidature was 28th December. Former Minister Md Maruf Sharif withdrew his nomination. The campaign continued till 1 am on December 28.

Candidates

These candidates were registered by the Imruland Election Commission. Candidates are listed in the order they appear on the ballot paper.

List of candidates of the 2022 Imrulian presidential election

No.	Name of candidate	Portrait	Political office	Registration Date
1	Mssh Zareef Hassan		Incumbent Minister of Information & Broadcasting (2022 - 2023) Incumbent Minister of Public Administration (2022)	24 December 2022
2	Ishtiak Mahfuz Abdullah		Incumbent Minister of Defense (2022)	25 December 2022
3	Tanha Shafiq Bhuiyan		Incumbent Speaker of the Parliament of Imruland (2022 - 2023)	25 December 2022
4	Fokhrul Sazzad		Incumbent Vice President of Imruland (2022)	25 December 2022
5	Ismam Muntasir	Portrait is not available	Member of the Parliament of Imruland	26 December 2022

Campaigning

There was equal opportunity for every candidates for campaigning. The government arranged a special debate named Who's The Next Leader on 28 December 2022. Any voter could ask any question to any candidate. The debate was live telecast on the state-owned Imruland Television (ITV). Also, the candidates were able to address the nation in a recorded speech on the Imruland Television. Everyday two candidates addressed in a televised speech. First candidate former Information Minister Mssh Zareef Hassan address the nation on 26 December 2022. Former Defense Minister Ishtiak Mahfuz Abdullah and Speaker Tanha Shafiq Bhuiyan addressed on 27 December. Vice President Fokhrul Sazzad and MP Ismam Muntasir gave their speech on 28 December. Besides, the candidates also campaigned in their own arrangements as per their wish.

Opinion polls

The government arranged an opinion poll on 28 December 2022. Ishtiak Mahfuz Abdullah and Tanha Shafiq Bhuiyan were jointly ranked first.

Percentage

Poll source					Portrait is not available	Invalid ballots
	Ishtiak	Tanha	Fokhrul	Zareef	Ismam
Result	30.43%	30.43%	17.39%	4.34%	4.34%	13.04%

Security

The government took necessary security measures to ensure the free, fair and peaceful conduct of the elections. Campaigning of all the candidates had been completed without a hitch. No untoward incidents were reported anywhere. Ballot boxes had been sent through tight security to all polling centres. 9 platoons of the Border Guard of Imruland (BGI) and the Imruland Armed Force had been deployed in each centre. Besides, a large amount of police had also been deployed. Imruland Intelligence Agency (IIA) personnel had stepped up their patrols in plain clothes. The Deputy Prime Minister Muzahidul Islam's Dekchi Force also patrolled jointly with the government forces as a private force during polling. The election ended in a completely smooth manner. No vote rigging was reported anywhere.

Results

The final results of the elections were announced by President Showib Ahmmed at 8.30pm on 29 December.

Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	Fokhrul Sazzad	Independent	24	37.50
	Ishtiak Mahfuz Abdullah	Independent	23	35.94
	Tanha Shafiq Bhuiyan	Independent	12	18.75
	Mssh Zareef Hassan	Independent	3	4.69
	Ismam Muntasir	Independent	2	3.12
Total			64	100.00
Valid votes			64	100.00
Invalid/blank votes			0	0.00
Total votes			64	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			82	78.05
Source: Official Facebook

Aftermath

President Showib Ahmmed called the election fully free and fair. Both the winning and losing candidates welcomed the result. Losing candidate Ishtiak Mahfuz Abdullah congratulated Fokhrul Sazzad to win the election. The power was transferred to the elected President after the 2nd session of the Parliament of Imruland on 31st December 2022. The Constitution of Imruland was passed on the session. Showib Ahmmed was awarded the Brobel Prize in peace on 1 January 2023 to arrange the election peacefully and transfer the power to the elected president.

See also

• President of Imruland