Democrats files complaint with EC over PNC’s forged membership forms

The Democrats on Sunday filed a complaint with the Elections Commission (EC), accusing the ruling People's National Congress (PNC) of fraudulently registering individuals, including opposition members, without their consent.

The Democrats claim that the PNC has submitted fake and invalid forms to the EC, raising concerns about electoral integrity.

According to the Democrats, several of their party members were wrongly registered under the PNC without their knowledge.

The party has requested the EC to restore the affected individuals to the Democrats’ register under Article 49 of the Political Parties Act.

The current register, published by the EC, shows that the Democrats have 3,667 members—down from 4,300 members previously—raising questions about the missing members.

The issue is not limited to the Democrats. The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has also reported similar concerns, alleging that approximately 3,000 of its members were transferred to the PNC without their consent. MDP National Assembly members were also allegedly registered under the ruling party without their knowledge.

Photos circulating on social media have further fueled the controversy. Images purportedly show forms being filled out in the meeting room of the Department of National Registration (DNR). Some of these photos reveal stacks of passport-sized photos attached to forms, suggesting mass registration efforts. This has led to serious allegations against officials in the DNR and Home Minister Ali Ihsan, with critics accusing political employees of orchestrating the fraudulent registration process.

The Democrats have urged the police to investigate the individuals responsible for what they describe as “stealing” their members. They are also calling on the EC to take swift action to correct the fraudulent registrations and ensure transparency in the electoral process.