Ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has scheduled an extraordinary congress after its presidential candidate and incumbent President Abdulla Yameen Abdulla Gayoom suffered a heavy defeat in Sunday's presidential elections.
PPM in a statement said the party's council during a sit-down had decided to hold a congress on Friday and Saturday.
The party's last congress was held in 2013 to elect former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom as the party president. Gayoom however was unceremoniously ousted from the party after falling-out with his half brother Yameen and has since been jailed over the alleged plot to overthrow the government in February.
Just a little over a quarter million people in the tropical island nation voted on Sunday in an election amid mounting international concerns for a lack of transparency and suppression of government critics.
The election widely regarded more as a referendum than an election saw incumbent Yameen seeking re-election go against the veteran lawmaker Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
Throughout Sunday, Solih maintained a healthy lead but pulled well clear as Yameen lost key electorates despite significant pledges of development in the next five years.
Solih had been backed by Yameen's main political rivals including the now jailed former presidents Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, Nasheed along with Jumhoory Party leader and business tycoon Gasim Ibrahim.
Preliminary results from Sunday's election shows an overwhelming victory for the opposition alliance with Solih securing 58 percent of the votes.
On Monday, president Yameen went on air to concede defeat and has promised a smooth transition of power to his successor.
PPM meanwhile had vowed to serve the people as the opposition party with Yameen tipped to remain as its leader.
