Election results fabricated: Housing Minister

Minister of Housing and Infrastructure, Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, on Tuesday, stated that the results of the presidential election held on September 23, were fabricated.

Speaking on air during a Channel 13 programme, Dr. Muizzu stated that evidence sufficient enough to prove the illegitimacy of the results have been presented.

Muizzu stated that the results, which demonstrate a clear electoral victory for opposition candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih over incumbent President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, unfairly favours the opposition and does not represent the correct figures.

The Housing Minister accused the opposition of having planned to tamper with the elections long before it was held.

According to Dr. Muizzu, allowing the complaints regarding the election to go unaddressed would be a great disservice to the nation as it would impact the future of the nation. He reasoned that the case to annul the election results was for the benefit of the citizens and expressed confidence that the truth would prevail.

The minister also guaranteed that all of the incumbent president’s actions during his term in office were in accordance with the constitution and noted that he is handling the issue with grace.

While several foreign nations have threatened to impose sanctions in the event that the election results are annulled, Dr. Muizzu stated that this would not happen since the invalidity of the results are apparent.

President-Elect Solih won with a total of 134,705 votes which represents 58.4 percent of the ballots, whereas the incumbent president received 41.6 percent of the ballot which amounts to 96,052 votes.

Despite the decisive victory, the president has refused to accept his electoral defeat and filed a case at the Supreme court seeking to annul the election results.

The hearings for the case concluded yesterday with the apex court deciding not to allow the presentation of confidential testimony from three witnesses brought forth by the president.

Dr. Ahmed Abdulla Didi, the Chief Justice, stated that the verdict would be announced soon if nothing remained to be investigated.