Following Supreme Court's ruling on the candidacy of the independent candidate contesting for the K. Guraidhoo Council President position, the seat has been confirmed uncontested for ruling People's National Congress (PNC).
The electoral complaint was submitted to the Supreme Court by independent candidate Abdul Majeed.
Supreme Court ruled that it does not have the jurisdiction to hear the case.
The Elections Commission had rejected Majeed's candidacy application stating that he had failed to submit some required information. The Supreme Court stated that the court only has the jurisdiction to hear cases related to Elections Commission's decisions on candidate eligibility criteria.
The Elections Commission announced yesterday that the number of eligible candidates for the K. Guraidhoo Council President seat by the application deadline was sufficient to forgo an election.
The commission hence declared that the seat has gone uncontested to PNC candidate Ibrahim Shaleez, of Ocean Reed, K. Guraidhoo.
Shaleez currently serves as the Vice President of the Guraidhoo Council.
Independent female candidate of K. Thulusdhoo Council Fathimath Suzan also submitted an electoral complaint to the Supreme Court.
In this case, the Supreme Court ruled that the Elections Commission had not acted on a valid legal standing in rejecting her candidacy. The Elections Commission had rejected her candidacy citing debt issues.
As the cases were raised at the Supreme Court, the Elections Commission had postponed the draw to assign candidate numbers in these two islands. Now that the cases have concluded, the Elections Commission has assigned candidate numbers and announced them.
While the Guraidhoo Council President's seat has been confirmed for PNC, the party has already won 69 seats uncontested across local councils and women's development committees.
