MDP accuses PNC of using forged signatures to inflate membership

The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has accused the main ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) of using forged signatures to inflate the party’s membership.

In a statement on Sunday, the MDP said it has been receiving numerous complaints regarding the party’s members being included in the membership registry of other political parties, especially the PNC, without their knowledge or consent.

The MDP said that scores of members, including members of the party’s national council, have been removed from the MDP and registered to PNC.

The party said it strongly condemns the move, and plans to file a formal complaint with the Elections Commission (EC).

MDP alleges that it shows the PNC has been submitting membership forms with forged signatures to meet the 100,000-membership goal set by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.

The MDP also accused the PNC administration of exerting influence over all state institutions and attempting to coverup the alleged deceit.

The opposition party called on the EC to strengthen rules and procedures regarding the registration and removal of members of political parties, and to “close the doors that allow PNC to inflate membership using fake forms.”

“The MDP calls on the Elections Commission to look into the misuse of privileged data of citizens with state institutions by the PNC to fill forms and boost membership as a serious issue, and to take legal action,” said the MDP.

“We also call on relevant institutions to investigate the issue of the PNC forging signatures to register members in the party’s membership registry.”

The MDP has repeatedly accused the PNC of misusing state resources to boost its membership.

In November, the Parliament passed no-confidence motions against Elections Commission (EC)’s then-vice president Ali Nashath and member Mohamed Asif in face of serious allegations of misconduct including creating and selling fake membership applications to political parties. However, commissioner Dr. Mohamed Zahir – who faced the same allegations - survived the vote.

Back in November, the PNC announced that it had received enough memberships to boost its membership to 97,000.

The EC’s official records show that the MDP continues to have the highest membership among political parties with 50,851 members as of September 19, with PNC’s membership at 28,983.