State media fails to provide equal opportunity for referendum awareness: Waheed

Former Member of Parliament for the Dhidhdhoo constituency, Abdulla Waheed (Wadde), has stated that state media is failing to provide equitable coverage in disseminating information regarding the referendum to hold parliamentary and presidential elections on the same day.

Waheed stated that the Maldivian public is not receiving adequate information regarding the referendum vote. He noted that the MDP has taken the initiative to conduct extensive efforts to raise public awareness. He further mentioned that the party is currently carrying out various activities across the islands of the Maldives.

In preparation for this, the MDP has formed a dedicated committee and is currently holding daily pickup-truck rallies across Malé. In addition, we are conducting awareness programs in collaboration with the media. Our party leadership is also disseminating this information during their ongoing visits to islands across the country.

Abdullah Waheed (Wadde), the former Member of Parliament for the Dhidhdhoo constituency.

He stated that the MDP has shared several concerns with the Elections Commission regarding the criteria for invalidating ballots. He noted that while the election includes the mayoral race, the council seat, and the Women’s Development Committee (WDC) seat, the Commission is issuing a single ballot paper for all three. Consequently, if a mark invalidates one section, the votes for the other two races are also being discarded.

We are pointing out that while three separate ballot papers should be provided for this election, they are proceeding with just one. For instance, the mayoral selection, the women’s reserved seat, and the council seat are all on a single paper. Therefore, we believe the narrow legal interpretation they are using to invalidate the entire ballot is incorrect. We are requesting that if a mark is made only in the mayoral box, the sections for the women’s seat and the council seat should not be invalidated. While the general law refers to markings on a single ballot paper, the Commission is issuing one paper where there should be three. We are urging them not to proceed in this manner

Abdullah Waheed (Wadde), the former Member of Parliament for the Dhidhdhoo constituency.

Waheed further stated that state media has failed to provide equitable opportunities to raise public awareness for the election, noting that airtime is being dominated by various government officials.

We are observing that PSM is extensively broadcasting the government's arguments in favor of the referendum alongside this election. However, PSM is currently operating in a manner that denies us, as the opposition party, the opportunity to respond or present our perspective on the matter.

Abdullah Waheed (Wadde), the former Member of Parliament for the Dhidhdhoo constituency.

Waheed stated that state media must provide equitable opportunities to all parties, noting that the MDP has formally shared these concerns with the Elections Commission.