Maldives United Opposition (MUO) has held a gathering on Friday evening, calling for “a free and fair election.”

The gathering, which began at 4:30 pm on Friday, was held outside the official headquarters of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)

A number of MUO members spoke at the gathering, and called on the government to ensure that the institutions are independent, and to pave way for a free and fair election.

The gathering was interrupted by police officers.

The gathering was held on Friday, despite a number of MDP senior officials being out of Male’ campaigning for its internal elections.

Last year, Civil Court, despite not having the jurisdiction to do so, ruled to delay the Local Council Elections, by two months, after the ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) filed a case, claiming it was not ready “due to internal issues.”

It was originally scheduled for Saturday, January 14.

MUO partner, Adhaalath Party has announced that it will be boycotting the council elections, while MDP maintains that it will do all to hold the government accountable, and make the peoples’ voices heard.

While the council elections have been pushed back by two months, 563 island councilors, 67 atoll councilors ad 23 city councilors have to be elected for the local councils.

Some opposition officials allege that the government’s actions show that they do not intend to hold the presidential elections in 2018.