President-elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has said that Maldivian people can ‘finally enjoy clarity’ regarding the election, and called on the outgoing president ‘to genuinely work towards facilitating the transition’.

Solih made the appeal following Supreme Court’s ruling on the petition filed by President Abdulla Yameen, seeking the annulment of September’s presidential election alleging electoral fraud. However, the court on Sunday declared that there ‘is no legal basis’ to annul the election.

Yameen lost his hopes for reelection on September 23, as Solih took 134,705 votes while he received just 96,052. While he had conceded defeat the next day, he later filed the case at the court claiming that his party had received thousands of complaints regarding the voting process.

In a statement released on Sunday, the president-elect noted that the petition to annul the election ‘was frivolous from the start, and spoke more about an inability in some quarters to accept defeat, than any genuine concerns about the vote’.

“After weeks of uncertainty, the Maldivian people can finally enjoy clarity regarding the outcome of the election,” said Solih.

He added that following the Supreme Court ruling, ‘the country can look forward to a smooth transition of power,’ and called on the outgoing president ‘to accept the will of the people, and genuinely work towards facilitating the transition’.

Noting that ‘it is imperative that the new administration delivers on the promises’ made during the election campaign, he added that these include respecting people’s rights, consolidating democracy, upholding the Constitution and delivering peace and prosperity for all citizens.