AP to be told to revise regulation over disqualification of women from running for leader

Elections Commission (EC) chairman Ahmed Shareef has stated that the Adhaalath Party (AP) will be told to revise its internal regulations, if it does not allow for women to run for party leader.

AP was registered as a political party in 2010. Its internal regulations state that only males are eligible to run for the party’s leader and deputy leader. The regulation was recently amended to allow for women to run for deputy leader.

Shareef told Sun that disqualification of women from running for any of the two positions is against best practice, and will not be condoned by the EC.

“We will discuss with Adhaalath Party if an amendment is made in violation of best practice,” he said.

Shareef said that the AP has yet to send its recent amendments to the regulation to EC, and that the commission will instruct the party to make the necessary changes if they find any unacceptable amendments.

“We will instruct for re-amendment,” said Shareef, when asked if the EC will instruct the party to change its regulations if it is found to contain provisions disqualifying women from running for party leader and deputy leader.

Candidacy for AP leader and deputy leader is currently open, and will close on January 9. The election will be held on January 23.