Incumbent president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom's newly named running mate Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed on Sunday announced that he would not be stepping down as the Chancellor of the Islamic University of Maldives (IUM).
During a press conference, the renowned religious scholar said the decision was made after consultation with president Yameen and the Attorney General.
He explained that the Islamic University remained an important initiative of president Yameen who needs him to stay on and develop the university even after the elections.
Shaheem also revealed that the president would soon appoint a vice chancellor to oversee the university while his own role would be limited to an advisory one which he said would not inhibit the election campaign.
Shaheem had been president Yameen's first Islamic minister but had stepped down after the jailing of his long-time friend and religiously conservative Adhaalath Party (AP) leader Sheikh Imran Abdulla.
Shaheem was appointed as the IUM chancellor in 2016 and had later quit from Adhaalath Party citing differences with current party ideologies.
