Meekail: Stats show me leading the election; voters’ list in some islands have been manipulated

South Galolhu MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem, citing that he is leading the MDP chairperson election according to preliminary data, has alleged that the voters' registry in some islands has been manipulated to exclude his supporters.

Speaking to the media after casting his vote, Meekail urged all party members to participate in the election.

However, he expressed serious concern over what he described as several troubling incidents observed during the voting process. According to Meekail, his representatives in some islands were deliberately denied official identification badges while voting continued, and complaints have also been received regarding instructions to cast ballots into damaged ballot boxes.

"We are witnessing instances where our supporters have been removed from the voters' list," Meekail stated, repeating his allegations of voter registry manipulation.

He stressed that such issues raise serious concerns regarding the credibility of the election.

Emphasizing that this is not the standard of conduct he expected in an MDP’s internal election, Meekail said the incidents do not reflect the values and vision of the party. He called on the party’s Elections Committee to strengthen internal democracy and ensure a free, fair, and transparent electoral process.

Meekail further argued that the party’s prospects of securing victory in the 2028 presidential election depend on ensuring fairness and equality within its own ranks.

"We can only achieve success in 2028 by ensuring the integrity of our internal elections and following that path," he said, underscoring the importance of maintaining confidence in the electoral process.

Voting in the election kicked off at 14:30pm in the afternoon and is set to continue until 20:30pm tonight.

The election follows weeks of intense campaigning between the candidates, Meekail and former president Mohamed Nasheed. It is widely viewed as a pivotal contest that will determine which of the party’s factions gains control over the party’s future direction.