Elections Commission (EC) had cynically waited until the last possible moment to invite foreign election observers, says former President Mohamed Nasheed.
In a tweet on Friday, Nasheed said that they did this knowing that foreign observers cannot come without proper prior notice.
He also said that the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) primary election proved that the EC has zero credibility.
“EC must change to have a genuinely free, fair and inclusive election.”
The Maldives EC cynically waited until the last possible moment to invite foreign election observers, knowing that they can’t come without proper prior notice. MDP primaries proved EC has zero credibility. EC must change to have a genuinely free, fair and inclusive election.
— Mohamed Nasheed (@MohamedNasheed) June 8, 2018
EC had attempted to stop the MDP primary election in May by using police officers to confiscate ballot boxes. Nasheed, MDP’s de-facto leader, was the only one who contested the election and has since been given the party ticket.
EC claimed that the self-exiled opposition leader cannot contest the presidential election this year since he is yet to serve his prison sentence. The Commission has also threatened to dissolve the party for allowing Nasheed to contest the party’s primaries.
The presidential election is set for September 23.
