High Court rules in favor of PPM in row with EC

PPM members vote during its extraordinary congress at Dharubaaruge on September 28, 2018. (Photo/Twitter/PPM)

High Courted has ruled the Elections Commission’s decision not to endorse the extraordinary congress held by Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) on September 28-29 as unlawful.

EC had refused to endorse the extraordinary congress citing procedural irregularities. The decision was contested by PPM at the High Court.

The extraordinary congress elected former Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Yamoon as its leader and elected four deputy leaders to the party.

The refusal by EC to endorse the extraordinary congress and the decisions made during the extraordinary congress had left a power vacuum at the very top of the former ruling party.

The High Court, this Thursday afternoon, overruled the decision by EC and ordered the commission to accept the changes made to PPM’s constitution and include the leaders elected to PPM in the register for political parties within the next 24 hours.

The court dismissed EC’s argument the election of the deputy leaders conflicted with two provisions of PPM’s constitution, and ruled the election did not violate the party’s constitution – therefore destroying the basis that the four deputy leaders were elected unlawfully.

The court said EC failed to specify how laws were violated during the votes.

The court also said EC did not check PPM’s register, undermining its argument that non-party members participated in the extraordinary congress and contributed to the voting.

EC has been ordered to publish the names of the leaders elected to PPM to its website within the next 24 hours.

PPM leadership: