Secretary general of the Elections Commission (EC), Ahmed Ali has resigned. 

The resignation comes not long after Chief Commissioner Ahmed Sulaiman resigned from his post on the 31st of January. Sources report that Sulaiman had handed over his resignation on the direct order of President Yameen Abdul Gayoom. 

Preparations for this year's presidential elections are underway at the commission, who on Tuesday said that the opportunity for candidates to participate in the 2018 presidential election will be open in July.