The Civil Court has dismissed a petition seeking an order to re-hold the main-ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) 's presidential primary.
MDP held its presidential primary in February, and President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih won the party ticket by a large margin against Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed. A case was filed in the Civil Court by an individual named Ali Amjad following the primary, stating that a large number of MDP members were expelled from the party ahead of the primary and that the primary must therefore be nullified and re-held to assure party members' right to vote in the primary.
In an earlier hearing of the case, the MDP had said that Ali Amjad was not a member of the party and, therefore, the case could not be heard. However, Ali Amjad's lawyer argued that he was expelled from the MDP after the case was filed in court, and the case could therefore continue.
The Civil Court on Tuesday ruled that the petitioner did not have sufficient interest and capacity to file the case and therefore dismissed the petition.
