Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) on Thursday won the challenge of the Election Commission's refusal to endorse the party's congress which elected former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom as the new party leader.
PPM had claimed that president Yameen who suffered a rather embarrassing defeat to the opposition alliance candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in September's presidential elections was voted in as the new leader unanimously by congress members.
However, the members of the Elections Commission had refused to endorse the congress citing procedural violations.
The first appellate court on Thursday ruled in favour of PPM and ordered the elections commission to recognize the leadership elected during the congress within 24 hours.
The development would come as major boost for Yameen who is facing a battle to hold onto the party in his bid to remain as the country's new opposition leader.
The party's last congress was held in 2013 to elect former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom as the party president. Gayoom however was unceremoniously ousted from the party after falling-out with his half brother Yameen and has since been jailed over the alleged plot to overthrow the government in February.
The Civil Court in 2016 found Gayoom guilty of violating the constitution, party charter and the political party law and handed-over party control to president Yameen.
