Candidature forms submitted to the former ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) old office have been declared invalid, Secretary General of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) Abdulla Khaleel said Monday.
Some members submitted forms to the office after an announcement by ousted PPM leader Maumoon Abdul Gayoom's faction.
The former president's faction had previously announced that they had received over 200 submissions.
Gayoom locked in a bitter power struggle with half brother and incumbent president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom lost ruling party control after a court order -- backed by the appellate courts had handed over PPM control to the younger Gayoom.
All the equipment and documents in Gayoom's party have since been taken away to the new PPM office in the main convention centre 'Dharubaaruge'.
Khaleel told 'Avas' that it is unclear whether the forms were part of the documents taken from the old office, but that all documents in the office had been transferred to 'Dharubaaruge' according to the court ruling.
He further said that those forms would be invalid regardless, and that the only way to become the PPM candidate is by applying to the new office.
Khaleel has requested all those who submitted forms to the old office to resubmit them to the new one.
The party has requested aspiring candidates to submit forms before the 6th of November. The elections will be held on the 14th of January 2016.
