EC informs Parliament of dismissal of Sinan, Ilham from PPM

Elections Commission (EC) has informed Parliament that Member of Parliament for Machangolhi South Constituency Abdullah Sinan and Dhangethi Constituency MP Ilham Ahmed have been removed the registry of ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) and effectively removed from their Parliament seats.

Their dismissals were confirmed in a letter sent by the Commission to Parliament on Thursday and follows dismissal of four MPs on Wednesday.

EC stated that Thulusdhoo Constituency Member of Parliament Mohamed Waheed Ibrahim, Madduvvari Constituency MP Mohamed Ameeth, Dhihdhoo Constituency MP Abdul Latheef Mohamed and Vilingili Constituency MP Saud Hussain had all lost their Parliamentary seats following the Supreme Court ruling.

Speaking in an exclusive interview to RaajjeMV Ilham said that he was elected to the Parliament on a Jumhooree Party ticket and therefore based on the Supreme Court ruling he cannot be stripped from his seat.

Noting that EC has no jurisdiction to strip an MP from his seat, Ilham had criticized the Commission and its President Ahmed Sulaiman. He also expressed his intentions to file the case in Supreme Court.

The four MPs who had been stripped from their seats have filed their cases with Supreme Court and Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).