Supreme Court annuls MP Abdulla Ahmed’s disqualification

Supreme Court has overruled the decision by Elections Commission to disqualify South Thinadhoo MP Abdulla Ahmed for floor crossing and reinstated him to the People's Majlis.

The court made its decision with the unanimous agreement of all five Supreme Court judges this Monday morning.

Abdulla Ahmed sent the letter to Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) informing them of his decision to leave the party on July 10, 2017. But the PPM sent its letter to EC informing them of the decision to remove Abdulla Ahmed from the party on August 28, 2017.

Supreme Court noted in its verdict the date Abdulla Ahmed sent the letter to PPM. And that he also sent a letter to EC informing them of his decision on July 13, 2017.

The court said PPM’s constitution explicitly states members are removed from the party the moment they send a letter to the office with their request. And that though PPM sent its letter to EC on August 28, 2017, Abdulla Ahmed was legally removed from the party on July 10, 2017.

The court ruled none of the conditions for disqualification of a lawmaker is applicable to Abdulla Ahmed.

EC determined Abdulla Ahmed was disqualified from his parliamentary seat on September 5, 2017. The decision was made based on the Supreme Court’s ruling in 2017 which states conditions for disqualification of lawmakers.

Abdulla Ahmed was elected to the People’s Majlis as a candidate of Jumhoory Party (JP), but later defected to PPM.