Meekail raises fairness concerns over ballot box placement in party centres at four islands

South Galolhu MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem has raised concerns over the integrity of the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) chairperson election scheduled for Friday, alleging that actions of the Elections Committee are compromising the fairness of the process.

In a letter addressed to MDP’s Interim Chairperson Abdul Ghafoor Moosa, Meekail noted that the Elections Committee had initially decided to place ballot boxes in schools across inhabited islands for the vote.

However, he alleged that the Committee’s chairperson has since unilaterally decided to relocate ballot boxes to the party centres in four islands. The islands cited by Meekail are:

• F. Feeali
• L. Isdhoo-Kalaidhoo
• L. Mathimaradhoo
• GA. Villingili

Meekail emphasized that the original decision to use schools was intended to ensure maximum transparency and fairness in the voting process.

He added that the sudden relocation of polling stations to party centres in Feeali, Isdhoo-Kalaidhoo, Mathimaradhoo, and Villingili—without clear justification—raises serious concerns.

Meekail further alleged that supporters in F. Feeali have openly discussed plans to engage in fraudulent "mass voting," and argued that the relocation of polling stations could facilitate such incidents. Therefore, he has called for the decision to be reversed and for ballot boxes in these island to be placed in schools as initially planned.

The MDP chairperson election is set for Friday, with Meekail contesting against former president Mohamed Nasheed. Ibrahim Mohamed (Waddey) had initially been in the race but has since withdrawn and endorsed Meekail.

Meekail is backed by former president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and his allies, while Nasheed is campaigning alongside MDP’s former chairperson Fayyaz Ismail.