I am still President, legal action will be taken against this: Dr Didi

Dr Ibrahim Didi has said today that despite MDP National Council removing him from his post through a no-confidence vote, he is still the elected President of the party, and that he will obtain legal advice on this issue and take the necessary action to save the party.

In an interview with Sun Online soon after his removal from the post of MDP President by MDP National Council, Dr Didi said that what we saw today was low-level conduct by a party which claims to be the country’s largest democratic party. He said that even though he had been removed from the post, he will remain steadfast in fulfilling the responsibilities assigned to him by party members.

“Few days ago, the court ruled that Moosa Manik has no legal authority in the party. How can a person without any legal authority make an announcement? In which capacity can he chair the National Council meeting? We have to ask these questions. I can’t allow the party to drift with the current, by handing over the steering to a person who doesn’t even have legal authority. I will remain steady in fulfilling my responsibilities. I can’t be removed just like that. I was elected by a large group of the public. That’s what I believe,” Dr Didi said.

Dr Didi said that if he is obstructed in carrying out his responsibilities, he will take the matter to court in order to save the party. He will do everything possible to get the party back on the right path and in line with its basic laws. He is currently working to obtain legal advice on this issue.

“I can’t do nothing and just watch this party drift with the current. I believe I have responsibilities to carry out. If I am obstructed in doing that, I will have to take the matter to the country’s judicial system, in order to get the party to work according to existing rules and regulations. I will do everything possible to protect this party,” Dr Didi said.

The no-confidence resolutions against Dr Didi and Alhan Fahmy were presented to MDP National Council by President Mohamed Nasheed’s ally and Henveiru Dhekunu MP Hamid Abdul Gafoor. It was supported by former Executive Services Secretary of President’s Office Mohamed Ziyad, also one of the closest allies of Nasheed. The resolution was passed with 69 votes out of 70 members present at today’s meeting.

The meeting was held at Dharubaaruge and open to public; however neither Dr Didi nor Nasheed attended the meeting.

Dr Didi said that he did not attend because he was not part of the National Council.

“I have talked about that also on several occasions since I was elected, but up till today it has not been done. I have faced pressure from within the party in various ways. But even with those pressures, I have been making sacrifices for the party. I won’t leave this party, the thought hasn’t even crossed my mind.”

Because he failed to attend the meeting, he did not get a chance to respond to the issue. Alhan attended the meeting and spoke in defence of the claims made against him.

Dr Didi said that resolution passed in the National Council today was baseless. The issue at hand and the claims made against him were unclear. He did not accept the resolution, and said that it was invalid. He added, “Such a resolution passed at a council which is 100 percent controlled by President Nasheed, would definitely have had Nasheed’s blessing.”

“The way leaders of the party are being treated, and how these practices are repeated – this is very sad. The party will be greatly affected by this. What we saw today was that few influential people cannot accept constructive opinions expressed within the party.”