The opposition had alleged that the chief of the electoral body is under government pressure to reject former President Abdulla Yameen's candidacy for the presidential election.
The opposition Progressive Party of Maldives-People's National Congress (PPM-PNC) coalition awarded its presidential ticket to Yameen. The two parties are now campaigning for the jailed former leader.
Yameen is serving an 11-year jail sentence after the Criminal Court found him guilty of bribery in the leasing of Vaavu Aarah island in the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) corruption.
Despite his conviction and sentence, the PPM-PNC coalition is pressing ahead with the campaign, insisting that Yameen would remain the coalition's candidate for the September presidential election.
However, Yameen needs to win the appeal trial pending at the High Court in order to be eligible as a candidate and the opposition hopes the High Court would overturn his conviction.
Elections Commission (EC) President Fuwad Thowfeek told Adhadhu's 'Etherefuh' program that the commission would reject Yameen's candidacy if his conviction and sentence continued.
"[He] cannot contest until [the jail sentence] is quashed. The candidacy will not be accepted. [They] can submit [the form] but we will not accept [the candidacy]," he said.
Responding to the remarks, PPM Vice President and MP Ahmed Shiyam told Adhadhu that Fuwad was under government pressure to reject Yameen's candidacy by changing his stance.
“Earlier, Fuwad said that there is no obstacle for President Yameen to contest in this situation. Actually, it seems that the reason why Fuwad changed his language is that he is under pressure from the government,” Shiyam alleged.
He added that there is no legal excuse to obstruct Yameen's candidacy and that deciding whether to accept or reject the candidacy is not in the EC president's hands.
"Under the current situation, there is no basis to reject the form. Especially because the sentence has been appealed," he stated.
PPM-PNC coalition earlier stated that they would go to court if EC rejects Yameen's candidacy. According to Fuwad and as per the law, the EC will have to accept Yameen's candidacy if the court issues an order.
