The candidacy form of the main opposition, the PPM-PNC coalition's presidential candidate, has been filed at the Elections Commission (EC).
The opposition coalition presented its presidential ticket to former president Abdulla Yameen in February last year. However, after being convicted on money laundering and bribery charges in December 2022, he is currently serving an 11-year prison sentence, rendering him ineligible to contest the election. The alliance remains hopeful that a higher court will overturn the lower court's verdict, thereby reinstating Yameen's eligibility to run for office.
Yameen's candidacy form was handed over to EC's President, Fuwad Thawfeek, at a ceremony at the Election Center established at Dharumaaruge on Tuesday morning. The document was handed over by Yameen's campaign agent and PPM's Secretary General, Mohamed Tholal. Several prominent members of the PPM-PNC Council, including Yameen's running mate, former Vice President Mohamed Jameel Ahmed, were also present at the ceremony. However, it's noteworthy that Abdul Raheem Abdulla, currently in charge of the opposition coalition, was not in attendance.
After receiving the form, EC's Vice President Ismail Habeeb said the EC would decide on the candidacy form within the next 48 hours. He said efforts will be made to expedite the process, and the commission aims to respond even earlier, ideally before 6:00 pm on the same day.
“We will not deliberately delay the commission's decision,” Habeeb said.
President Yameen is the first person to file his candidacy to contest the September presidential election.
