The Elections Commission reiterated Sunday that it would not allow any political party to hold presidential primary elections in violation of the Maldivian Constitution.
Member of the electoral watchdog, Ahmed Akram, stated that as the guardian of political parties, it fell under the commission's liability to ensure parties adhered to the legal framework.
He asserted that the EC would remain steadfast in guiding political parties that overstep lawful boundaries.
The EC and members of the joint opposition have been at odds recently, after the commission declared that Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)'s only candidate for the primary, former President Mohamed Nasheed, was ineligible to run as he is currently sentenced to 13-years in jail. The commission had said that the primary would be deemed null and void, and warned MDP that the party could face dissolution.
However, opposition parties have refused to recognise the EC's decision. They claimed that there was no legislation in the Constitution or Elections General Act according EC the power to look into the proceedings of parties' primary elections.
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