The presidential ticket from biggest opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has been officially handed to its uncontested primary winner former president Mohamed Nasheed (Anni).
The prime opposition party's primary held on Wednesday despite authorities intervening its proceedings during the voting, resulted with Nasheed receiving a total of 43,936 votes.
Elections Commission had deemed the primary unconstitutional due to its contender being a convict subjected to serve a 13 year jail sentence.
At MDP's main rally camp the official presidential ticket was received by Nasheed's campaign manager Ahmed Aslam since the former lives off in self-imposed exile; currently in Sri Lanka. The presidential ticket was awarded to the former head of state by the party's chairperson Hassan Latheef.
The opposition party's chairperson promised a stronger impetus on Nasheed's presidential campaign to expand outreach. Latheef promised to compile a first draft of the campaign manifesto earlier in June with a scheduled congress on June 29 and June 30.
Meanwhile the country's electoral watchdog has officially claimed MDP primary's illegitimacy adding they will deliberate for a course of legal action against the party for violating the commission's orders.
Furthermore local media has been prohibited by home ministry and authorities from broadcasting contents associated with the former president, including his campaign videos, speeches or any material pertaining to Nasheed in any manner.
