Maldives' electoral watchdog has no desire to dissolve any political party in the archipelago, but repeated legal infringements could ultimately force its hand, a commission member warned Monday.
Rumours have been rife that the Elections Commission was looking to dissolve the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) over what it has described as an illegal presidential primary to pick self-exiled former president Mohamed Nasheed for the upcoming presidential elections.
Police seized ballot boxes in a bid to stop the primary which Nasheed was contesting unchallenged following a court order shortly after voting began on Wednesday.
But despite the court order and best efforts by police to stop the elections, voting in polling stations set up throughout the nation and four countries abroad had continued.
Civil Court had issued a stay order on the primary over Nasheed's candidacy after the country's electoral watchdog made the request saying that the primary was illegal as its only candidate was a convicted criminal.
Elections Commission had barred Nasheed from contesting in the primary pointing out that his terrorism conviction prevents him from meeting the required qualifications to be president.
Commission member Ahmed Akram during a program on state TV on Monday refuted the reports but said repeated legal violations could force the commission's hand and seek a move for dissolution.
"When we advised on this primary [MDP] we did warn action in accordance with Article on dissolution as per the political parties' Act. But we really hope that it won't come to that. We don't want to dissolve any party," Akram who also serves as the commission's spokesperson said.
However, Akram warned that if forced, the commission would be legally obligated to seek dissolution.
According to preliminary results released by the party, a total 44,011 had voted in the primary out of which 43,922 members had voted Yes to Nasheed.
Nasheed lives in self imposed exile most recently in Sri Lanka after he was allowed to leave to the UK on medical leave in an internationally brokered deal following his jailing on terrorism charges.
Nasheed's 13 year prison sentence rules him out of the elections in September as per the constitution.
