Male' City’s Mayor, Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, has been declared the presidential candidate of the opposing PPM-PNC coalition.
The coalition initially named its leader, former President Abdulla Yameen as their presidential candidate. However, the Supreme Court on Sunday barred him from contesting the election, upholding the Elections Commission's decision to reject his candidacy. In response to this verdict, Yameen proposed that his party abstain from the election, but this suggestion was met with resistance from the PPM-PNC Senate. Following multiple discussions, Yameen ultimately agreed to the Senate's stance.
Meanwhile, in preparation for a potential scenario where Yameen is barred from contesting the presidential election, PNC had proactively elected Muizzu as an alternate presidential candidate under the PNC banner. There were earlier disagreements between PNC and PPM, with PPM asserting that Muizzu was Plan C for the party and that their preferred Plan A was Yameen, while an alternative candidate from PPM was Plan B.
In a recent development, PPM's Deputy President, Guraidhoo MP Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon Monday announced that Muizzu and his running mate, MP Hussain Mohamed Latheef, had been endorsed by both the PPM and PNC. Ghassan emphasized Yameen's commitment to his promises and his deep affection for the country's people, stating that Yameen had decided that the Muizzu-Hussain duo would represent the joint PPM/PNC coalition. Ghassan expressed the dedication of the coalition's leaders to ensure the success of their candidate in honor of President Yameen.
Former Vice President Dr. Mohamed Jameel, who is leading Yameen's legal team, had previously conveyed that President Yameen would fully endorse and stand behind Muizzu's candidacy.
