Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has revealed that members of parties that had no affiliation with MDP had attempted to disrupt the primary election.
At a press conference, Deputy Chairperson Ibrahim Waheed said that MDP has evidence that members of other parties had used passes meant for representatives of candidates to enter polling stations in Male’ and the atolls to create disruption. He said this was the reason behind the delays in the voting process in some islands.
As such, Deputy Chairperson Waheed revealed that two members of main opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) with passes had caused delays by closing a ballot box in Feevah, Shaviyani Atoll. He said that MDP members had also caused disruptions and that these incidents will be investigated. He, however, said MDP cannot take action against members of other parties who had caused the disruptions.
Maldives Police Service (MPS) had arrested individuals involved in disruptions during the MDP primary election. They have since been released.