Police probe MDP camp vandalism amid PNC membership allegations
The vandalism comes amid ongoing allegations against the PNC concerning its membership drive.
Police are investigating an incident in which tar oil was thrown at the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) camp on Chaandhanee Magu late Tuesday night.
The outer wall of the MDP camp features a photograph of the ruling Progressive National Congress (PNC) alongside accusations of alleged fraudulent membership additions. The photograph was defaced with black oil during the early hours of the morning.
According to a message by the Maldives Police Service, the incident was reported around 1 am.
“Police have received a report of black oil being thrown at the MDP booth on Chaandhanee Magu. The matter is under investigation,” the message read.
The vandalism comes amid ongoing allegations against the PNC concerning its membership drive, which aims to reach 75,000 members within the government’s first year. Accusations have surfaced claiming that individuals, including members of the MDP and Vikaradhoo MP Hussein Ziyad, were unknowingly registered as PNC members.
The PNC addressed these allegations Tuesday, acknowledging the presence of "rare" invalid forms within its membership drive. The party stated that it lacked the capacity to verify every form submitted and called on the Elections Commission (EC) to verify the authenticity of membership forms.
The MDP and its supporters have raised concerns over the issue, linking the alleged fraudulent registrations to broader issues of governance and transparency. The investigation into the vandalism adds to the ongoing tensions between the two political parties.
