Supreme Court has upheld High Court verdict to nullify the Elections Commission's refusal to accept the Extraordinary Congress of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), which saw former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom elected as the president of the party. The verdict was passed with the consensus of the bench.
In the High Court verdict issued regarding the case, the Elections Commission was instructed to accept the changes brought to the party charter and include the newly recruited members in the party registry within 24 hours of the verdict. However, the verdict was appealed at the Supreme Court by the Elections Commission.
At the Extraordinary Congress held on September 28, 2018, immediately in the wake of the former president's staggering defeat in the presidential polls, he was elected as the president of the party. A new steering committee for PPM was elected as well during the congress.
The Elections Commission declared the congress invalid, citing that it contradicted the party charter and that non-members participated in the election of the party steering committee held during the congress.