Ticket already handed to Pres Solih; ceremony is symbolic: MDP

MDP has officially given the presidential ticket to president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, who won the primary, and has said that the ceremony of handing over the ticket is symbolic.

Three other members of MDP, including former MP Hamid Abdul Ghafoor, who supported party president Mohamed Nasheed, filed a petition in the civil court on Wednesday seeking cancellation of the party's presidential primary held on January 28. In the case, it was stated:

MDP's Vice Chairperson Ibrahim Waheed, when questioned regarding the matter by Atoll Times on Thursday, said Nasheed, who had lost the primary election did not submit a complaint or declare investigation after both the provisional results and the permanent results were announced. He said the party's basic rules have provisions to deal with such matters and how cases can be appealed.

"I would say it was unfortunate that they went straight to the court without using the procedures to be followed in such matters within the party. I would say this is being done with a bad intention," Ibrahim Waheed said.

The party has now officially informed the winner that he has received the ticket through documents. The formal handing over of tickets is over. The ceremony is symbolic.

Ibrahim Waheed, Deputy Chairperson of MDP

When questioned regarding the plea made for an interim injunction to suspend the handing over of MDP's presidential ticket until the court concludes the case, Ibrahim Waheed said that such efforts are meaningless as it has already been completed. Thus, he said:

"The party has now officially informed the winner that he has received the ticket through documents. The formal handing over of tickets is over. The ceremony is symbolic," Ibrahim Waheed said.

"In this case, I don't think there is any place to pass an interim order. Ticket-handing over is over."

Ibrahim Waheed said that the presidential primary election was one of the most transparent elections held by the party. Ibrahim Waheed said that the results of the election have been clear and there is no scope to say that it is not authentic.

"The members of this party have chosen a presidential candidate and it has been completed. Then it's our way to go ahead with that candidate. We will not back down on that," Ibrahim Waheed said.

Former Attorney General Fathimath Diyana Saeed, the lawyer for the petitioners, told Atoll Times this Thursday that as per the information she has received so far, the party's presidential ticket has not been officially handed over to President Solih. She alleged that once a case is filed in the court, it is likely they will prepare a document on an earlier date. 

"Neither the party president nor others were aware of the ticket being given. We know that giving tickets in this state is open and big," Diyana said.

She added that more information will be known once the court starts hearing what they have sought in the case. Diyana pointed out that the case was filed because many people had lost their fundamental right to vote. "Thousands of people have been deprived of this right in such a way that it will affect the election in which all citizens participate," Diyana said. She also said that she cannot believe the court will dismiss the case  as a trivial matter.

"It cannot be treated as a trivial matter if the fundamental rights of so many people are denied. The case has been taken to the court to defend their fundamental right. It's a case where so many rights have been denied”.