Ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) nominated running-mate for 2018 presidential election Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed has urged the public to elect incumbent president Abdulla Yameen.
Dr. Shaheem requested from Maldivian public to stand united and elect president Yameen through a single contesting round.
The Maldives Islamic University's chancellor made the statement shortly after getting nominated as ruling party's running mate for presidential polls.
The ruling party made its announcement on Saturday evening after the party's council coinciding the nod to nominate Dr. Shaheem as its running mate.
Dr. Mohamed Shaheem has also been the first Islamic Minister under president Abdulla Yameen's administration when he was sworn back in 2013.
The former Islamic Minister resigned from his cabinet responsibilities shortly after Adaalath Party broke off the alliance with ruling party. Dr. Shaheem clashed with his former party, the religiously conservative Adaalath Party following its decision to break its ties with Abdulla Yameen's administration.
Dr. Shaheem was elected to president Abdulla Yameen's cabinet through Adaalath Party's slot.
The religious scholar is known for his close connection with Saudi royals and dignitaries. Interestingly the Maldives president is keen on further cementing the bilateral ties between the island nation and Arab league's major nation.
