MP for Kaashidhoo Constituency Abdullah Jabir has resigned as the leader of Dhivehi Rayithunge Party DRP as he moves to form his own political party.
Jabir has also resigned from the party's membership and his decision came after the Elections Commission decided to disband the party as it did not have enough members as per the law.
Under the law, a political party must have at least 3,000 members before it is allowed to operate in the country.
DRP was the second political party registered in the country and it came into existence back in 2005. The party was founded by former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom but he left the party after losing the 2008 presidential election to the MDP coalition.
Factions were formed within the party and the party lost most of its members to the Progressive party of Maldives PPM.
Meanwhile, the Elections Commission has given permission to MP Jabir which allows him to form his own political party.
The Commission confirmed via Twitter that it has given permission to Jabir to form a party named 'Green Party of Maldives' and has handed over the party registry to the MP.
The MP must now find enough members for his party to fully register it as a political party ahead of the Presidential elections this year.
