Supreme Court rules PPM Congress valid

Supreme Court, on Wednesday, ruled that the Extraordinary Congress held by Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) in September 2018 was legitimate.

The congress was declared invalid by the Elections Commission (EC) on the basis that the congress was held without completing the procedures stipulated in PPM's charter.

During the congress, President Abdulla Yameen Abdula Gayoom was declared as PPM's new leader, while four vice presidents and council members were also appointed.

The High Court in November had overturned EC’s decision not to endorse PPM's Congress.

Meanwhile, the dispute case over PPM's leadership is still ongoing at the Supreme Court. The case, which seeks to hand over PPM's leadership from Yameen back to his estranged half-brother and former president, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, was filed at the Civil Court by a civilian member of the party. The Civil Court had later forwarded the case file to the apex court.