EC officials’ stay at MDP-linked guesthouse triggers protest

A protest has been triggered at Sh. Foakaidhoo, over the guesthouse that has been allocated to accommodate Election Commission’s (EC) officials who had arrived in the island for Komandoo parliamentary by-election scheduled for tomorrow.

The guesthouse that has been allocated to accommodate EC officials at Foakaidhoo is Sunset Guesthouse, which is allegedly linked to Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

Supporters of the opposition coalition had gathered at the guesthouse premise in protest tonight, over EC officials being accommodated there.

Commenting on the matter, EC’s President Fuad Thaufeeq told Sun that accommodation for EC officials was arranged by the focal point at the island.

“Apparently, the guesthouse EC officials are accommodated at is linked to MDP. Our accommodation is arranged through the focal point in each island,” he had said.

As accommodation was arranged through the focal point – Fuad said that EC was in the view that the guesthouse was not linked to any political parties.

Fuad further detailed that subsequent to the complaints from the opposition coalition – efforts were underway to change the accommodation of EC officials to another place.

Some media outlets had reported that the protest at Foakaidhoo was triggered as EC officials had met with some senior officials from MDP.

Commenting on this, Fuad said that EC officials are given strict instructions to not meet with members of any political parties before being sent to islands for election-related matters.

“Officials have been repeatedly given instructions, even before departing, to not meet a candidate of any party or any person related to such an individual,” he had said.

Noting that no complaints have been received over EC officials meeting members of any political parties – Fuad stressed that should any such complaint be submitted, it will be investigated.

He also urged all political parties to cooperate to ensure a peaceful election.