EC terminates candidacy of local council election candidate

The Elections Commission of the Maldives (EC) has terminated the candidacy of a candidate in the upcoming local council elections due to failure to meet the criteria and requirements for the candidacy. 

The EC in a letter to the candidate terminating his candidacy stated that a magistrate court in the Maldives had determined that he did not meet the requirements for the candidacy in the election. The disqualified candidate is Hassan Moosa who was contesting for the Th. Kandoodhoo Council Presidency. The Magistrate Court of F. Billehdhdhoo had ruled that Moosa did not meet the requirements. 

The EC also stated that documents obtained by the Commission showed that Moosa did not meet the requirements. His candidacy was effectively terminated by the EC which cited Article 65 of the Electoral Regulations which gave the Commission the power to do so. 

Hassan Moosa was contesting in the election on the ticket of the opposing PPM party. Due to his disqualification, the candidate contesting in the election from the governing party MDP will be automatically elected to the post. No other candidate is contesting in the election for the council president of the constituency.