Elections Commission (EC) have revealed that four candidates who lost their party primaries will be contesting in the upcoming parliamentary election scheduled for April.
The four candidates are as follows:
Mohamed Abdulla for Ihavandhoo constituency
Ahmed Mohamed for Hithadhoo South constituency
Mohamed Abdul Kareem for Henveiru North constituency
Abdulla Jabir for Kaashidhoo constituency
Maldives' apex court earlier this month ruled against the ban on individuals who lose a party primary from contesting independently.
The Supreme Court annulled Article 20 of the Political Party Act, which enforces a statutory ban on individuals who lose a party primary from contesting in the target election independently.
In their verdict, the top court ordered the Elections Commission to accept candidacy papers of those who lost party primaries but wishes to compete in the parliamentary election independently until 4th March.
The case was filed jointly by prominent businessman and former Kaashidhoo MP, Abdulla Jabir who recently suffered a defeat in main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)'s primaries for the parliamentary election, and attorney Abdul Maaniu Hussain. The same issue was also presented to the Supreme Court by Ahmed Mohamed from southernmost Addu City.
The Supreme Court, with the unanimous agreement of all five judges presiding over the bench said in their verdict that the article barring individuals who lose their bid for a party ticket from running independently infringes on the political rights of an individual mandated by the constitution.
Following the Supreme Court order, former president Mohamed Nasheed requested those candidates who lost Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)'s primary to refrain from running in the election independently. He also warned action against member who choose to run in the election.
