The Supreme Court on Wednesday night accepted the constitutional case filed by President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom against the validity of the recently held presidential election results.
The candidate for ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) filed the case based on statements regarding the polling that were made by his supporters.
After the case was submitted, the attorney to the president and his representative on the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), Mohamed Saleem (Reynis Saleem), stated that numerous concerns were raised by the supporters of PPM, and that the decision to file the case was made in consideration of their statements.
PPM also released a press statement the same day, stating that various issues concerning the September 23 presidential election were brought forth by observers, monitors and other unidentified entities, to the ruling party.
"Based on these complaints, we as a party believe that, if there may be grounds to assert the loss of the party's electoral rights of presidential candidate and running mate, then the case must be filed".
PPM also declared that it decided to file the case at both the High Court and Supreme Court, in response to a statement made by the Maldives Police Service.
The opposition candidate, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, won the presidential election with 134,705 votes in his favour, a pronounced lead of over 38,000 votes against President Yameen who received 96,052 votes, marking the widest margin in a presidential election in Maldives to date.
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