Fonadhoo MP Abdul Raheem Abdulla has been removed Saturday from the council of ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).
In addition to MP Abdul Raheem, the party leader former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom also removed two other members of the council. The other two members are Zahid Rameez and President of the party’s Youth Wing Ibrahim Yoosuf. President Gayoom informed them of their dismissal in writing.
In the letter to MP Abdul Raheem, President Gayoom wrote that he was dismissed for violating the party charter, also stripping him of his deputy leadership role in the party. In his letter to Zahid Rameez, President Gayoom cited the decision for dismissal as inappropriate social media activities.
Following the dismissals, President Gayoom appointed former Home Minister Umar Naseer as a member of the party council.
Meanwhile, two PPM lawmakers filed a case with the Civil Court on Saturday, seeking an injunction on the party council to remove President Gayoom from the leadership position.
The case was filed by Naifaru MP Ahmed Shiyam and Hulhudhoo MP Mohamed Shahid, who are also members of the party council. In the case, the two lawmakers claimed that President Gayoom was operating outside the party charter.
The Civil Court said efforts to reach an out-of-court settlement had failed and that the case would go to trial, with a hearing scheduled for Sunday.
In the meantime, PPM also announced a decision to increase the deadline to file application for the party ticket to contest in the Local Council Elections slated for January. The deadline has now been increased till October 23.