Maldives foreign ministry urges all, including the international community to refrain from spreading misinformation ‘which may raise questions regarding the credibility of the election and undermine the process’.

In a statement issued less than 24 hours before the country heads to polls, the ministry said that the Elections Commission ‘has called on all concerned to support the Commission in its commitment to hold impartial, free, fair and transparent elections’.

Noting that 38 delegates from 11 agencies, and 26 representatives from media agencies have been granted the opportunity to observe, and monitor the election, the ministry assured that the it will be conducted ‘in compliance with the Presidential Elections Act, and regulations as well as international best practice’.

However, it failed to mention that some journalists and observers accredited in the list had not received the required visa to enter the country and cover Sunday’s election.

The ministry further noted that the Elections Commission has ‘publicly’ clarified the concerns regarding the vote counting procedures, adding that it will follow all standard vote-counting procedures in previous elections ‘to ensure a transparent process and to combat fraudulent practices’.

“All elections held since 2008, have been deemed free and fair by international elections observers, and there is no expectation that this election will be different”, said the ministry, adding that the Maldives government has ‘full confidence’ in the Elections Commission.

Further noting that it welcomes the international community’s ‘continued interest in a fair, transparent, and credible election in the Maldives’, it called on all parties ‘including the international community, to support the electoral process in the Maldives, and refrain from spreading misinformation regarding the elections and voting process, which may raise questions regarding the credibility of the election, and undermine the process’.

Maldivians will head to polls on Sunday, where they will decide between incumbent between President Abdulla Yameen and Joint Opposition’s candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. Provisional results are expected to come in on Sunday as well.