MDP charter doesn’t specify any grounds for removal of party President and VP: Dr. Didi

Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) elected President Dr. Ibrahim Didi who was yesterday sacked by MDP national council said that the charter of MDP does not specify any grounds for the removal of the party’s elected President and Vice President.

Speaking to some of the local media, Dr. Didi said that although the charter of the MDP mentions that a no confidence vote can be taken against the party leaders, there is nothing in the charter on sacking the leaders.

Dr. Didi said that the vote taken against him and the Vice President in yesterday’s emergency meeting of the national council of MDP is against the tenets of democracy.

He questioned the authority of MDP interim Chairperson Reeko Moosa Manik for chairing yesterday’s meeting. He said that the post held by Moosa Manik holds no legal leg and is not an elected post. He added that a court of law have even declared this against Moosa Manik.

Dr. Didi also noted that there was no details of the issue on why the no confidence motion was tabled were not disclosed although the charter stipulates it to be disclosed for the vote to be taken.

He said that he does not believe that his removal from the Presidency of the party holds any weight although a no confidence vote was taken against him.

Dr. Didi said that the no-confidence vote against him was triggered because he tried to form a shadow cabinet as stipulated in article 79 (2) of the MDP Charter. He said that it is absurd that the party which claims to the vanguards of democracy in the country lost confidence in him only because he was trying to do something according to the charter.

Meanwhile, MDP activists recently attack MDP President Dr. Didi, accusing him of colluding with President Dr. Mohamed Waheed’s Government. Empty bottles and abuse was thrown at Dr. Didi Wednesday night when he attempted to address an MDP rally. The meeting was also attended by former President Nasheed.

Dr. Didi has been at loggerheads with Nasheed since Dr. Didi’s public statements that he was unaware that Nasheed resigned due to force. Didi has also been at the forefront of calling upon MDP to undertake a reform process to strengthen itself for the next elections. Dr. Didi was prevented from addressing the meeting due to a power cut engineered by Nasheed supporters, sources say.

Speaking to media Dr. Didi said that similar events had occurred during the MDP presidential primaries in 2008 when the then Party President Dr. Munawwar was contesting against Nasheed. Dr. Didi who filled the Fisheries Minister in the MDP Government, is the top ranking elected leader of MDP. The posts of Supreme Leader (held by Nasheed since February 8th after he resigned) and Interim Chairman (held by MP Reeko Moosa) are not elected posts, but assigned posts.