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Nasheed gains 43,922 votes in MDP primary

Nafaahath Ibrahim
31 May 2018, MVT 12:34
Former President Mohamed Nasheed voting in MDP's presidential primary on May 30 in Sri Lanka. PHOTO/MDP
Nafaahath Ibrahim
31 May 2018, MVT 12:34

Former President Mohamed Nasheed won main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)'s presidential primary with 43,922 votes in his favour.

The primary was held on Wednesday despite the Civil Court's order to cease.

With this win, Nasheed will be MDP's candidate for the Presidential Elections slated for this coming September.

However, it is questionable whether the Elections Commission (EC) would accept Nasheed's candidacy. EC has previously stated that since Nasheed is a convicted criminal with a 13 year jail sentence, he no longer has the right to take part in political activities.

The temporary results of MDP's primary was announced early Thursday morning. According to the results, out of 44,011 people who cast votes, 43,922 voted in favor of Nasheed. 14 people voted against him and 75 votes were invalid.

Nasheed won the majority of the votes from capital Male' City (5,439 votes) and southern Addu City (3,942 votes).

MDP's charter requires the candidate to secure at least 10 percent of the votes even if only one candidate were taking part in the primary.

The Civil Court ordered the police and all other relevant institutions to stop MDP's primary on Wednesday. The police interrupted the voting several times, ultimately seizing MDP's ballot boxes.

Despite the attempts from Police to stop the primary, MDP continued creatively, using things like plastic bags, iceboxes and concrete mixers in lieu of ballot boxes.

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