MDP requests extra 10 days for council election nominations
Nominations for the council elections opened on 17 January and are scheduled to close on 1 February, providing a total of 14 days for submissions.
The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has requested the Elections Commission to extend the nomination period for the April local council elections by a further 10 days, saying the current timeframe is insufficient.
Nominations for the council elections opened on 17 January and are scheduled to close on 1 February, providing a total of 14 days for submissions.
The MDP raised concerns over the nomination deadline at a press conference held on Wednesday. Speaking at the briefing, MDP council elections spokesperson and former Dhidhdhoo MP Abdulla Waheed said the main difficulty faced by candidates is delays in clearing criminal records.
Waheed said the Maldives Correctional Service and the Judicial Service Commission are taking longer than expected to process criminal record clearances, adding that these institutions do not appear to be prepared for the election schedule.
He also said challenges have arisen as this is the first time nomination forms are being submitted through the eFaas digital identity system. According to Waheed, correcting errors in the online forms often requires additional time.
He said the situation affects the electoral rights of potential candidates and called on the Elections Commission to grant an additional 10 days for nominations.
