Speaker and People’s National Congress (PNC) Chairperson Abdul Raheem Abdulla has rejected claims of internal division within the party’s parliamentary group, following comments made by Velidhoo MP Mohamed Abbas.

In a Facebook post, Abbas alleged that 13 or 14 PNC lawmakers were prepared to side with the public even at the risk of losing their seats. He claimed some PNC members had refused to vote on certain bills introduced without prior discussion, saying the public was disappointed. Abbas further stated that tensions had run high at a PNC parliamentary group (PG) meeting on Wednesday, leading to the cancellation of a planned follow-up meeting the next day. He also accused the party leadership of amending rules to disqualify MPs in a bid to curb their powers.

Responding on X, Abdul Raheem described Abbas’s remarks as “baseless”, insisting the PNC parliamentary group “will be stronger than divided” despite such “fake news”.

PNC PG leader and Inguraidhoo MP Ibrahim Falah also dismissed the claims, calling them a “grave mistake” and alleging that former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom had paid Abbas MVR 3 million to spread the rumours. Falah stressed that the parliamentary group remained firmly behind President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, warning that “no matter how many evil plans are made, they will not succeed”.

Falah further accused Abbas of lacking the moral and ethical qualities expected of a parliamentarian, adding that spreading divisive claims was not a sign of political skill but of “moral bankruptcy”.