The ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has announced that the primaries to nominate party candidates for the Local Council Elections have been postponed indefinitely.
In a statement, the party said efforts are underway to select candidates for the elections, however the work has been hampered by the absence of a valid member registry.
"There has to be a list of all party members for there to be a legitimate election, however important party documents are still missing to this date," the statement read.
The statement revealed that a complete party list has not been compiled even after the latest efforts by the party.
"PPM has decided to delay the elections without a set date till this matter can be resolved," the statement read.
PPM meanwhile, in a case filed to the civil court had sought postponement of the local polls slated for January 14 citing the ongoing rift within the ruling party had impeded the party's preparations for the elections.
The divisions within the ruling party stem from a dispute between the elder Gayoom and his half brother President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.
The rift between the Gayooms grew to the point of causing a split in the party. The matter eventually saw its end in court with the reins of the party being given to the party's chief adviser, President Yameen.
The elder Gayoom has however, continued to defy the court ruling and has since led a breakaway faction within the party with his supporters, and has since withdrawn his support for the government.
"Its not possible for the party to face the elections after overcoming the many obstacles it had faced recently," the lawsuit read.
The case had also argued that the party database and other key documents that had been reported missing after the handover, which had also hampered its preparations for the elections.
As the party would face irrevocable loss if it contested the elections on the scheduled date, PPM had urged the court to postpone the elections by two months.
