The Civil Court has handed over case documents disputing Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM)’s leadership to the Supreme Court.

Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom filed the case in an attempt to regain his position as party leader.

The case states that PPM’s chief advisor, President Abdulal Yameen, was given the party’s leadership unlawfully.

President Yameen was given the party’s leadership after the Civil Court on 16 October 2016 ordered the PPM council to hold a meeting with the chief advisor and decide on the party’s leadership. Subsequently, the council voted to hand over the party leadership to President Yameen.

Since PPM regulations states that the chief advisor has no leadership authority, President Yameen was officially voted in as the party’s president in a recent party congress. However, the Elections Commission (EC) stated that it does not accept any of the decisions made at the congress, since it was held unlawfully.