Independent candidates face unfair barriers under new eFaas‑based nomination process, Umar tells EC

Former Home Minister Umar Naseer has raised concern over the regulation requiring independent candidates in the upcoming local council elections to secure and verify the support of at least 50 people through the Election Commission’s (EC) online portal accessed via eFaas.

The EC opened the portal on the 17th of this month, with submissions accepted until midnight on Sunday.

Under the current process, anyone wishing to contest must log into the EC’s main portal using eFaas. Independent candidates must gather a minimum of 50 supporters, who must also log in through eFaas to verify their support. The EC has stated that only voters registered in the respective constituency can endorse a candidate.

In a letter addressed to EC Chairman Mohamed Zahid, Umar argued that requiring supporters to authenticate themselves through eFaas infringes on the electoral rights of independent candidates. He said he was raising the issue as someone intending to contest the 2023 and 2028 presidential elections as an independent.

Umar claimed that only about 10 percent of Maldivians know how to use eFaas.

“The other 90 percent have never done it and don’t know how to do it. This regulation violates the rights of these 90 percent,” he wrote.

He added that such an “impediment” cannot be imposed except through legislation, and stressed the importance of maintaining familiar electoral procedures. He also noted that even officials for the council elections must now be nominated through eFaas.

Umar requested the EC to repeal the regulation.

Umar previously contested the 2008 presidential election as the candidate of the Islamic Democratic Party, which he helped form. He did not advance to the second round in either that election or the 2023 presidential election.

The April 4 council elections will elect members for 225 constituencies.

The opposition has also raised additional concerns. The MDP has argued that the nomination window is too short and has called for a 24‑hour period to submit forms online. The party’s council election spokesperson, Abdullah Waheed, urged the EC to allow manual or bulk submission of forms.

Meanwhile, allegations have surfaced claiming the ruling PNC has access to the EC portal and can view candidate information. The EC has denied the accusations.