MDP claims its election observer applications rejected

Opposition party, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has raised allegations Elections

Commission has rejected some the application forms submitted by the party and its candidates for observer and monitor positions for Local Council Election, giving no valid reason for the rejections.

The application deadline for observer and monitor positions was December 14.

In a statement released by MDP this Thursday, it alleged that EC had used different “tactics and deceit” to derail the party.

MDP said that the party was unable to submit many of its applications online due to server overload. And that some of its application forms submitted to focal points had been rejected for no specific reason.

“Elections Commission has rejected many of the names proposed by this party as observers over no valid reason. And though the commission announced observer application forms will be accepted by certain focal points in the atolls, some of the focal points failed to do so,” said MDP.

Speaking to “Sun”, member of EC, Ahmed Akram said that the commission was operating in line with its policies, and that convenient arrangements had been made for MDP to make its submissions.

Local Council Election – originally scheduled for January 14 – has been postponed by two months by Civil Court.

EC has filed for appeal over the decision with High Court. And it’s not clear if the appeal has been accepted by the High Court or not.

EC has not made any official announcement the Local Council Election has been postponed.