MDP alleges Supreme Court rushed referendum ruling in President’s favour

The opposition MDP on Tuesday criticised the Supreme Court’s decision on the upcoming referendum, alleging the ruling aligned with what President Dr Mohamed Muizzu wanted.

The Supreme Court ruled earlier in the day that the question proposed by the President for Saturday’s referendum is not unconstitutional. The constitutional case had been filed by lawyers Ibrahim Shiyam and Aik Ahmed Easa.

Speaking at a press conference after the ruling, MDP Legal Director Ahmed Mauroof said the case was handled unusually quickly, with a hearing held the day after it was scheduled.

He said the party had submitted a request to intervene in the case, but the Supreme Court responded that there was not enough time, something Mauroof described as further indication that the outcome was predetermined.

Mauroof said the MDP had argued that the referendum question was not in line with the law, but the Court ultimately ruled that the vote could not be stopped.

“[The case] asked for a ruling that a vote should not be taken with such a question. But the Supreme Court ruled today that the vote cannot be stopped because it is a vote initiated by President Muizzu,” Mauroof said.

Former MP Ali Niyaz, who also spoke at the press conference, said the Elections Commission’s National Advisory Committee had failed to address any of the concerns raised by the party. He alleged that the referendum was being pushed onto the Commission for political reasons.