The Elections Commission (EC) has petitioned the police to stop the "illegal" series of protests held by ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) over the alleged tampering of the presidential election results.
Ahmed Akram, an EC member, stated that the commission sent a letter to the police requesting their intervention in stopping the series of protests held by PPM outside their campaign office in capital Male’.
Speaking on air on Sangu TV, Akram stated that the protests violate the first amendment of the Freedom of Peaceful Assembly Act. The amendment, which had been proposed by PPM, makes it illegal for any gathering to be held in any region of Male’ without written permission from the police.
PPM later denied they were holding protests, instead claiming that the gatherings were "information sessions", which are not prohibited according to the Freedom of Peaceful Assembly Act.
Akram also stated that the electoral watchdog is responsible for holding political parties accountable and, thus, will take actions against any party which violates regulations.
Although PPM had initially accepted the electoral loss of their candidate, incumbent President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, they later claimed that EC members had accepted bribes and committed election fraud.
The electoral watchdog has denied all the accusations raised against them and maintain that the election was free and fair.
The incumbent president has submitted a case at the Supreme Court to annul the election results. The court concluded hearings for the case last week Tuesday, and the verdict is to be pronounced Sunday afternoon.
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