MDP deputy chair: Voting will continue despite disturbances

Voting in the MDP presidential primary will continue despite the incidents of violence in several polling stations across Maldives on Saturday, with voters breaking open ballot boxes and engaging in verbal and physical confrontations, according to the MDP deputy chairman, Ibrahim Waheed (Iburey).

Polls opened in the highly contentious election which pitches President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih against MDP’s leader and Parliament speaker Mohamed Nasheed at 09:00 am. Multiple disturbances have been reported from polling stations in Male’ City and in other islands across Maldives.

One case involved a disturbance in GDh. Gadhdhoo, when voters tore up ballot papers and broke open the ballot box at the polling station in the island, after a voter reportedly came in with a bodycam.

Voting resumed after Nasheed’s representatives were expelled from the polling station.

Another case involved a disturbance in GDh. Thinadhoo, during which the South Thinadhoo MP Abdulla Saneef was assaulted.

Meanwhile, voters in Th. Madifushi broke open the ballot box after an incident involving an unregistered voter.

Iburey told Sun voting will continue despite the disturbances.

“We will complete voting today,” he said.

Iburey condemned the damage to ballot boxes.

He said that voting time will be extended in affected polling stations.