Hard to accept that EC is independent: Ex-President Maumoon

Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who ruled the nation for 30 years, has said that "it is difficult to accept that the Elections Commission (EC) is independent."

The leader of the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) made the statement via twitter on Monday, sending out two tweets on the matter.

"The actions of the Elections Commissions makes it difficult to accept that the institution is independent," reads the first tweet.

Attached to the second tweet is a picture of a letter addressed to President Maumoon from EC's secretary general Ahmed Ali, in response to a letter sent by the former President.

In the letter, EC refuses to give out party details to President Maumoon, asking him to seek them directly from the party.

EC said that the information requested by Maumoon is shared by the party, and asked the former President "to contact the party to get the information required."

Recently, the Commission postponed the Local Council Elections from the 8th of April to the 15th of April. Additionally, EC had also extended the time for candidates to send in their applications, following which, PPM's President Abdulla Yameen's faction postponed its rally scheduled for February 4, where they were to introduce the party's candidates for the council elections.

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This is the second time that the Council Election was postponed, it was originally scheduled for January 14, but was postponed by two months, after the Civil Court ordered EC to do so.

The Civil Court ruling came after President Yameen’s faction of PPM- who are to hold the gathering “Heyvalla”- filed a case, seeking to delay the council elections, citing that the party "was unable to prepare on time due to an internal conflict".

PPM has been divided in to two factions since June 2016, as President Yameen and half-brother, former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom continue to be involved in a public battle over party leadership.

Civil Court ruling ordered that the party be taken over from Maumoon, and handed over to Yameen.