The Edition
facebook icon twitter icon instagram icon linkedin icon

Latest

News / PPM

PPM refutes rumours of plans to cancel election results

Fathmath Shaahunaz
27 September 2018, MVT 10:44
PPM parliamentary group leader Ahmed Nihan speaks to the press about the Presidential Election 2018. PHOTO/MIHAARU
Fathmath Shaahunaz
27 September 2018, MVT 10:44

Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) on Wednesday night refuted rumours that it was seeking to cancel the results of the Presidential Election held on September 23.

Speaking to the press after PPM's council meeting, the ruling party's parliamentary group leader Ahmed Nihan stated that allegations of PPM planning to file a case at the High Court to annul the election, which the party's candidate and incumbent President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom had lost by a wide margin, surfaced on Wednesday evening,

However, Nihan asserted that the ruling party has no plans of submitting such a case to the High Court.

The Villimale MP also denied the rumours of PPM allegedly filing at the Elections Commission to delay the announcement of the official election results. However, Nihan stated that the ruling party might have sent a letter urging EC to not announce the official results anytime before or after the constitutionally determined period of seven days after election day.

"This is in no way designed to manipulate or change the [official] results," he said.

The rumours of PPM's alleged plans to cancel the election results came after Nihan urged the ruling party's parliamentary group members to submit their election-related complaints to PPM's Office as soon as possible.

With regards to the circumstances, Nihan on Wednesday night stated that the ruling party has been receiving various information about the election, and that he urged PPM's lawmakers to submit their complaints at the earliest in order to look into the truth of the matter. He reiterated that his urging was not with designs to change the election results.

Nihan went on say that the objective of PPM's council meeting that night was not to discuss the election, but rather to focus on the party's future and its coming "Extraordinary Congress" to be held this weekend.

PPM's council meeting on Wednesday night was chaired by the party's adviser, President Yameen.

The provisional results released by the Elections Commission show that Ibrahim Mohamed Solih of the opposition coalition won the election with over 134,000 votes in his favour while President Yameen received only over 95,000, giving Solih a 38,000-vote lead.

Addressing the nation the day after the election, President Yameen had declared that he recognised the decision of the people and conceded defeat, assuring a peaceful transition of power.

Share this story

Discuss

MORE ON NEWS