The controversy-ridden presidential revote in the Maldives on Saturday could be scrapped at the last minute as two of the three candidates are yet to endorse the voting register, the Elections Commission warned on Friday.
Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) candidate Abdulla Yameen and Jumhooree Party’s Gasim Ibrahim have demanded fingerprint verification of the finalised voter roll, with police refusing to support the poll without the candidates’ signatures.
After submitting letters with their demand to the Elections Commission at midnight, both the party’s leaders have been unreachable, Minivan News reported.
Amidst the impasse, Maldivian Democratic Party leader Mohamed Nasheed, the country’s first freely elected President, appealed to his challengers not to “hide” from the polls, saying, “Maldivians are hungry for a vote.”
The Elections Commission said a revote can be held as scheduled only if presidential candidates sign the voters roll by 7.30 am on voting day.
“Without their signatures, the Maldives Police Service is not willing to support us. They will not give protection to conduct the election and if we hold polls it will be invalidated by the Supreme Court,” said Elections Commission chairman Fuwad Thowfeek.
“We are trying our best to have the election as per the verdict of the Supreme Court,” said poll panel Vice Chairman Ahmed Fayaz.