EC decides to withdraw appeal over election postponement

Elections Commission (EC) has made the decision to withdraw its file for appeal with the High Court over the Civil Court order to postpone the upcoming Local Council Election by two months.

EC appealed the court order claiming such a postponement with result in irrevocable loss to EC and gross wastage of State resources.

The decision to withdraw the appeal comes mere hours after High Court reported to the press that the file for appeal had been accepted by the court.

In a statement issued this Thursday, EC announced that it made the decision to withdraw its appeal in respect to the wish of the national advisory committee – which includes political parties.

EC said it will comply with the Civil Court ruling, and complete all legal formalities to hold the Local Council Election at a later date.

Civil Court issued the order to postpone the election after ruling party, Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) requested for it via a lawsuit.

PPM argued that important documents of the party had gone missing, rendering them unable to prepare for the election in time for January 14, 2017.

Civil Court ruled that the loss to PPM, the largest political party in Maldives over missing out the council election outweighed the loss to EC if the election is postponed.