Opposition JP demands solutions to local elections "mayhem"

Opposition Jumhoory Party (JP) urged Tuesday to prevent the mayhem caused over the Local Council Elections issue and to uphold the lost rights of the people.

Speaking to Mihaaru, the Secretary General of JP Ahmed Sameer noted that despite the court order to delay the elections on request of ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM)'s adviser, the incumbent President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, the Elections Commission has appealed the court order and continues to insist that the elections will be held on the original date. However, it is unclear how the EC can conduct the elections against the Court's verdict, thus causing confusion for the public.

Sameer also expressed concern over the delay in the appeal of the Civil Court's decision.

“Justice delayed is justice denied. We are concerned over the thousands of rights neglected of the voters and the people ready to vote,” said Sameer.

“EC is asserting that they will conduct the elections on the initial date, but the High Court hasn't made a decision on the appeal of the Civil Court's verdict, so this is a huge chaos for us. A solution needs to be reached on this."

Stressing that a number of people has taken leave for the campaign of the local elections as well, he declared that the delay and confusion triggered are causing an unrecoverable financial loss and waste of time.

H added that though the EC continues to stand with the initial date, enough preparations have not been carried out till date.

The Election Commissions on Tuesday again proclaimed that they are preparing to conduct the election on January 14, the original date of the elections.

It is noteworthy that the High Court has gone to recess and has not yet begun the appeal process of the Civil Court's decision.

In its order, the Civil Court also said that the terms of the current councillors will be extended until the elections are held. The extension is granted since the Elections Commission is mandated to conduct the Local Council Elections 30 days prior to the end of the present councillors’ term as directed under the Decentralization Act. The term of the councillors were to originally conclude in February 2017.