Male’, Maldives – Members of Adhaalath Party (AP), part of the governing coalition have submitted a complaint to the Elections Commission (EC) after AP leaders have continued to maintain their positions without any elections.
The current leader of AP and incumbent Minister of Home Affairs Sheikh Imran Abdullah, and AP’s Vice President and Chief of Staff of the President’s Office Ali Zahir have remained in their positions for 4 years without any elections, according to members of AP.
EC Presdeint Ahmed Shareef, in an interview to news outlet “Vaguthu”, revealed that AP members submitted a complaint after the party’s internal constitution was amended so that Imran and Zahir can stay in their posts without elections.
Shareef explained that the complaint is now being reviewed by EC’s legal team, and that the team’s feedback would be taken into account during the commission’s final decision, adding that any action would be taken if needed after the said feedback is received.
The term of the current leaders of AP should have ended back in July of 2016, but after amendments to the internal constitution, the two have been allowed to retain their positions till date.
However, AP has recently announced that interested individuals may apply for the position of President and Vice President of the party.
The announcement states that interested participants must apply before 14:00 on the 9th of this month. They added that an applicant wishes to run for President of the party, they must submit a name as their running mate when turning in their applications.
Statistics by the Elections Commission reveal that AP has more than 6,000 registered members, and contributed to current president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s win in the last presidential elections.
