Yameen to file case against EC over use of eFaas in elections

Former President Abdulla Yameen said on Monday that legal action will be filed against the Elections Commission (EC) over the use of the eFaas digital identity system in the nomination process for the upcoming local council elections.

The Elections Commission has opened nominations for the elections through an online portal, requiring candidates and supporters to use the eFaas system to submit applications and endorsements.

Yameen said the use of digital tools in legal processes is not recognised in court without written or oral evidence. He said that court proceedings continue to rely on paper documentation, even when electronic systems are used in administrative processes.

He said that if disputes arise from the nomination process, the matter would have to be resolved in court, where hard copy documents are required. He added that the current law does not provide for the replacement of paper-based procedures with digital systems.

“So is there any way to eliminate filling out paper forms? There is none. The only way is to amend the law, and that has not been done,” Yameen said.

He said the decision to take legal action was made on the advice of lawyer Dr Mohamed Jameel.

Concerns were also raised by Dr Jameel and lawyer Ali Shah, who said the eFaas system is not used by all citizens and that independent candidates are required to obtain the support of 50 people through the system to submit nominations.

They said the process raises constitutional issues, as access to digital identity systems is not universal.

“We are going to court to challenge these matters,” Yameen said. “If there is time between the court process and the elections, we will pursue a decision. We hope to succeed.”