There is ample proof that a ballot box was placed in Baa Thulhaadhoo: Tholal

The Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) Elections Committee Chairman Mohamed Tholal has said that there is ample proof that a ballot box was placed in Baa Thulhaadhoo. Tholal made his statement to refute Umar Naseer's accusations that a ballot box was not placed in Baa Thulhaadhoo, and that the ballots from the island were also included in the final count of ballots for the party's presidential primary elections.

Umar Naseer lost the PPM presidential primary held on the 30th of last month, to the party's parliamentary group leader Abdulla Yameen.

Speaking at a press conference held on the 30th of March, shortly after announcing the final results of the PPM presidential primary, Tholal said that the committee looking into elections complaints only looks into behavioral matters, but said the issue brought up by the defeated candidate was investigated nonetheless, and the that the findings show that the allegations hold no truth.

“These issues will be investigated by the behavioral committee. But regarding the things that some people had said on public media, we investigated some of the doubts they had brought up. For example, they’re saying that a ballot box was not set up in Baa atoll Thulhaadhoo, we have irrefutable proof that the ballot box was set up,” Tholal said.

He said that the ballot box reached Baa Thulhaadhoo on the morning of the polling day and that the box was placed in the island’s school, as it had been earlier announced.

Tholal said that they had not received any major complaints as the complaints duration came to a close. He said that the total number of complaints submitted was 9 and that those were regarding the missing names of voting lists.

The PPM elections committee chairman said that both the candidates had express content regarding the manner in which the polling was carried out. He said the election was conducted in a free, fair and transparent manner.