EC does not want to clarify re-registration verification issue with the court, says Yameen

Presidential candidate for Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) Abdulla Yameen has said that President of the Elections Commission (EC) Fuad Thaufeeq had admitted to him that the commission does not have the capability to verify the re-registration forms mandated by the Supreme Court, but will not take the issue up with the court.

Speaking to Sun today, Yameen said that he had called Fuad Thaufeeq to clarify how the EC intends to process bulk quantities of re-registration forms, as some political parties had submitted 30,000 bundle forms, and that he had told Fuad that he will not sign the forms if the EC fails to ensure their authenticity.

Yameen said that, when suggested that the EC could share the forms with the Department of National Registration (DNR) or the police to assist with the verification, Fuad had refused the suggestion by saying that the Supreme Court ruling does not require him share the forms.

“Elections (Commission) is saying that the no one has the capability to verify the forms. But I told (Fuad Thaufeeq) that the forms would include signatures of two witnesses, including the person who submitted it, and that the forms will be invalid if the fingerprints don’t match, even on one of the forms. But Fuad said the Supreme Court verdict does not say anything on verifying the forms. And that the commission does not want to take the initiative and go to the Supreme Court and say that there are difficulties with the forms,” Yameen said.

Yameen said that he does not believe that the EC is following the Supreme Court guidelines and that for PPM to have to go to court to with such an issue is disgraceful for EC. He also said that he hopes for the Supreme Court to further elaborate their guidelines.

Yameen said that the PPM council will consider participating the election if the EC cannot ensure the validity of the re-registration forms.