President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has denied allegations that the ruling coalition's voters' list for the primary to elect parliamentary candidates had been deliberately altered to favor some candidates.
Speaking to reporters after casting his ballot at the Henveiru Stadium, the President said he does not believe the coalition leaders would change the voters' list. The leadership wants to hold free and fair elections, he said.
"Changing any voters' list or any voters' registry is not the principle we believe in. Such a thing will not happen among us. I do not believe that such a thing might have happened."
He was responding to questions by reporters over allegations that some voters could not cast their ballots because their names were missing from the voters' list and the party registry.
"There will be equality for everyone. We will look into every case and every complaint," Muizzu said, noting that some complaints are lodged without properly ensuring the truth.
Several people told Adhadhu that there are irregularities in the voters' list for the ruling coalition's parliamentary primary.
A constituent of Henveiru Medhu said his name was on the party registry and voters' list last night, but the name was removed by the time he went to vote today.
"Last night I checked the list and my name was on it. But today my name is missing from the list and the party registry," Ahmed Shaaheen told Adhadhu.
He said about 329 people's names were not on today's voters list.
A total of 227 ballot boxes have been set up and 283 candidates are contesting in the primary.
Voting is ongoing in seven areas in the Male' region. They are Henveiru Stadium, Kalaafaanu School, Jamaluddin School, Thaajuddeen School, Villimale' Youth Center, Kamil Didi School and Rehendhi School.
Candidates will be elected for 73 parliament constituencies while 71,597 people are eligible to vote in the joint primary of the People's National Congress (PNC) and Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).
The ruling coalition's parliamentary ticket has already been confirmed for 13 candidates. They secured the ticket as no other candidates decided to run in their constituencies.
