A formal application with 4,000 signatures has been filed with the country's electoral body to register former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom's new party.
The application to register the People's National Congress (PNC) was submitted by party founder Fonadhoo lawmaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla who had been accompanied by several former ministers who had all quit the opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) to join Yameen's new party.
Yameen had moved to register a new political party as the dispute over the opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) leadership drags on.
Speaking to local reporters late last month, Yameen had said the move to form a new party was with his "blessing."
"We can't head to an election with the party's future shrouded in uncertainty. Supreme Court is in recess. We don't when or how the verdict would come. So we can't take any chances," Yameen explained the reasons behind the bid to form a new party.
The former president also urged his supporters to immediately switch to the party if and when the time comes.
The Civil Court in 2016 found former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom guilty of violating the constitution, party charter and the political party law and handed-over party control to half brother and the then president Yameen.
Gayoom however was unceremoniously ousted from the party after falling-out with his half brother Yameen.
However, a lawsuit was filed challenging the legality of the PPM leadership and asking the Civil Court to handover party reins to the elder Gayoom. But before a single hearing could be held, the Supreme Court had taken over the case.
