Case of Vote Buying By MDP Near Male City Ballot Box Lodged With EC

A case accusing Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) officials of buying votes in the area around the Komandoo constituency bi-election ballot box located in Iskandhar School in Male City has been lodged at the Elections Commission.

Opposition Progressive Party of Maldives spokesperson, Heena Waleed, mentioned that votes were being bought by the MDP from within a house located near Iskandhar School. She confirmed that the case has since been lodged with the Elections Commission.

She also mentioned that the case of the MDP's candidate, Mohamed Rasheed, violating Election Commission rules by campaigning within the vicinity of the Foakaidhoo (Shaviyani Atoll) ballot box has also been lodged with the Elections Commission.

The opposition had expressed a lot of concern about the government's alleged exertion of undue influence over the outcome of the Komandoo bi-election since the beginning of the electoral race.

The government had used the Komandoo bi-election campaign to launch several projects; including a MVR 300 million dredging project that had not been included in the national budget. Similarly, an official of Fenaka had threatened employees at the Foakaidhoo power-station to vote for the MDP's candidate.