Defeated PNC candidate seeks annulment or recount over disputed box

The defeated PNC candidate Mohamed Imaadh has asked the High Court to annul the results of the recent local council elections and either re‑hold the election for Th. Thimarafushi or recount the votes in the disputed ballot box at Aminiya School.

According to the official results announced by the Elections Commission, Ahmed Yameen and Ali Shah won the two council seats, Yameen representing the PNC and Shah representing the MDP. The case was filed by the defeated PNC candidate Mohamed Imaadh.

Hearings in the case began on Monday in the High Court. The bench stated that if no further clarification is required, the verdict will be delivered at the next hearing. The bench comprises Chief Judge Abdullah Jameel Moosa, Hussain Mazeed Ahmed and Abdul Maniu Hussain.

At Monday’s hearing, the plaintiff’s lawyers argued that there were major discrepancies between the results announced by the Elections Commission at the polling station in the presence of observers and the results later announced officially.

In response, the Elections Commission said the difference occurred because one result sheet had been omitted during the initial announcement at the counting center. With that sheet included, the EC said, the final results are accurate.

The plaintiff is seeking an order to cancel or recount the results of the ballot box at Aminiya School.

It is worth noting that Imaadh lost the Thimarafushi council president vote by only two votes.