Letter instructing nullification of chairperson election announcement: Gapo denies misconduct

Ahmed Abdulla Afeef, President of the Appeals Committee of the Maldivian Democratic Party, has stated that Interim Chairperson Abdul Ghafoor Moosa (Gapo) responded to the Committee’s directive to nullify the election announcement by asserting that “all matters were conducted properly.”

The Appeals Committee issued its instruction to Abdul Ghafoor on April 23rd, calling for the annulment of the chairperson election announcement on the grounds of non-compliance with the party’s regulations. A week and a half has elapsed since the letter, signed by Afeef, was issued.

Speaking to Sun on Saturday, Afeef stated that Abdul Ghafoor, in his formal response, maintained that the election process had been conducted in full accordance with due procedure.

“Following that, the Appeals Committee convened and formulated a revised timeline [for the election], stipulating that the voters’ list should be published by tomorrow [today], which has still yet to be published,” Afeef said.

He further explained that, despite the revised timeline having been formally submitted to the MDP Secretariat, it has not yet been made public. According to Afeef, the Secretariat indicated that Abdul Ghafoor is presently withholding the revised timeline prepared by the Appeals Committee.

Afeef cautioned that should the chairperson election proceed in accordance with the current schedule, there exists a substantial risk that the process may ultimately be declared void.

Under the party’s regulations, authority over matters pertaining to the chairperson election rests with the President of the Appeals Committee.

In his correspondence to Abdul Ghafoor, Afeef stated that the timeline issued alongside the announcement designating June 12th as the election date had been determined in contravention of his instructions. He further contended that any decisions concerning the chairperson election taken without his knowledge or involvement constitute a direct breach of the party’s charter.

The letter further noted that, although he had participated in a meeting of the election’s organising committee, he had intended to finalise the timeline only after consultation with the committee comprising the party’s leadership and its chairperson.

“Furthermore, at a time when there is tension among party leaders, it is ill-advised to make decisions that could undermine the party’s internal harmony,” the letter stated.

Afeef also raised concerns that a considerable number of MDP members had been registered with the ruling People's National Congress without their knowledge. He argued that, as members often become aware of such changes only when attempting to vote in internal elections, proceeding without allowing them to rejoin the party would undermine the electoral rights of both candidates and the broader membership.

Accordingly, Afeef requested that the current election announcement and its accompanying timeline be declared null and void, and that this determination be formally communicated to party members.

The position of Chairperson is currently being contested by South Galolhu Member of Parliament Meekail Ahmed Naseem and former MDP President Mohamed Nasheed.