The ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) cannot hold a party congress without the participation of its elected leadership, says former deputy leader Ibrahim Waheed.

Waheed, an MP and PPM’s elected deputy leader who remained loyal to the party’s founder after an internal split, said this after reports of an upcoming party meeting surfaced.

The parliamentarian said that functioning of the party is still the legal responsibility of those elected to the party’s leadership by its members.

Waheed said that there has been no court order granting the party’s current leadership, appointed by de facto leader President Abdulla Yameen, authority over the party and that he would file a ‘criminal and civil’ case if a congress is held.

In a statement on Tuesday, PPM announced that it will hold a ‘special’ party meeting this weekend, on Friday and Saturday night, in capital city Malé.

Waheed is currently a member of the Maumoon Reform Movement, founded by PPM’s ‘honorary leader’ and longstanding President of the Maldives, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom – who is now a member of the opposition coalition that won the presidential ballots this Sunday.