Nihan hints Maseeh no-confidence motion will be nullified

Parliamentary Group Leader of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), Vilimale’ MP Ahmed Nihan Hussain Manik has hinted the petition for a no-confidence motion against Speaker of People’s Majlis, Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed will be declared null.

PPM held a council meeting last Tuesday night, during which it was announced that the Elections Commission has informed the People’s Majlis that Thulusdhoo MP Mohamed Waheed Ibrahim (Wadde), Vilingili MP Saud Hussain, Maduvvari MP Mohamed Ameeth and Dhidhdhoo MP Abdul Latheef Mohamed have been removed from PPM membership roster.

Speaking to press after the council meeting, Nihan declared the four MPs will lose their parliament seats the moment People’s Majlis declares they are no longer members of PPM.

He said the moment that happens, it will beg the question of the validity of the petition.

“If that happens, the Majlis will be presided over by its current Speaker, Maseeh,” said Nihan.

Despite Nihan’s claims, leader of the opposition coalition, former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom is adamant that it will not happen.

Supreme Court ruled recently that any parliamentarian who, henceforth, is removed from is elected party or resigns from his/her elected party or switches parties will lose his/her seat.

The court said any such parliamentarians will lose his/her seat Elections Commission informs People’s Majlis they are no longer members of their elected party.

Supreme Court later issued an order detailing the three circumstances because of which a parliamentarian may lose his seat, in which it said none of the circumstances stand valid grounds in retrospect.