Maldives strongman President Abdulla Yameen filed a legal petition Wednesday challenging his landslide election defeat last month despite major international pressure for him to step down.
Lawyers for Yameen’s Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) told reporters that they are alleging that the September 23 vote was rigged by the independent election commission.
“We reviewed the numerous complaints filed by President Yameen’s supporters before deciding to file this challenge,” Yameen’s lead lawyer Mohamed Saleem told reporters.
“So in light of that, President Yameen decided that the challenge must be filed for the rights of his supporters,” he added.
It was however unclear whether the Supreme Court would agree to consider the challenge.
