MDP submits alleged form forgery case to ACC, PG

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has submitted complaints to both the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the Prosecutor General’s Office on Thursday, requesting they investigate the allegations surrounding ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) membership forms.

The ruling party faces allegations from its political opponents that the party had forged membership forms to inflate the party’s size. PNC recently conducted an initiative called ‘Membership Drive’ to enrol new members to the party.

According to the ruling party, more than 75,000 members were added to the party, which included both congress and general members of MDP.

With the situation around the case intensifying, the matter has been brought to the attention of Maldives Police Service as well.

MDP in a post on X said, that it had filed complaints with both police and the ACC to investigate the criminal allegations of PNC. The opposition party also said it has requested PG to issue an order on police to conduct the investigation on the allegations.

The party further demanded from the Elections Commission (EC) not to process any forms submitted by PNC without first confirming its authenticity.

The opposition alleges PNC had abused the personal data of individuals from the Department of National Registration (DNR) to forge the membership forms, which was carried out under the direct supervision of the Minister of Homeland Security Ali Ihusan, against whom MDP is seeking to submit a no-confidence motion to the parliament.

Recently, it was revealed that Vaikaradhoo MP, Hussain Ziyad, a member of MDP, had been enrolled to PNC without his knowledge. Besides Ziyad, former Manadhoo MP Mohamed Thoriq was added to PNC without his consent as well.

MDP had met with senior officials of EC regarding these instances and requested prompt action.