Parliamentary Group leader of ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) Ahmed Nihan brushed off news of his dismissal from the party, saying it was done by "strangers" and that he had only learnt of it via the media.
Nihan, along with PPM parliamentary group's deputy leader, Dhangethi MP Ilham Ahmed, were terminated from the party by the disciplinary committee of the PPM faction loyal to its ousted leader, Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. Mihaaru has not been able to reach Ilham for comment yet.
Nihan added that as per the court order, the control of the party is now with President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom and not Maumoon. Hence, he said it is unacceptable for others to make decisions of the party.
“I don’t know the people who did this, neither was I informed of any such happening,” said Nihan, dismissing his termination as invalid.
The ruling party PPM has been divided into two after the court’s order to handover the control of the party from its leader Maumoon Abdul Gayoom to its advisor, the incumbent President Abdulla Yameen. Since then, both factions have been making party decisions, claiming to be the true leadership of PPM.
According to Maumoon's faction, Nihan was dismissed from the party over violating the party’s charter and in relation to his leaked audio file about the selling of Faafu atoll. Ilham was dismissed over threatening lawmakers by warning them that they are “touching hot water” by voting against Parliament Speaker Abdulla Maseeh in the recent motion of no confidence against Maseeh.
Meanwhile, a disciplinary committee meeting of President Yameen’s faction recently dismissed Former President Maumoon from the party as well. However, Maumoon denies the verdict saying that he is the elected leader of the party and such a removal goes against the party’s charter.
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