Male’ City Mayor Dr. Mohamed Muizz emerged victorious in the People’s National Congress (PNC) presidential ticket selection, positioning himself as a contingency candidate in the event that the main opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) candidate, former President Abdulla Yameen, fails to secure his candidacy through the Supreme Court.
Following former President Yameen’s directive on Wednesday, the PNC’s council convened on Thursday at 10 am, where they passed a motion endorsing their participation in the presidential election and encouraged potential candidates to submit their nominations before 2 pm.
Two candidates stepped forward to vie for the PNC’s presidential ticket: PNC Vice President Adam Shareef and Dr. Mohamed Muizz, who had previously left PPM and joined PNC specifically to participate in the primary race.
In the subsequent vote conducted on Thursday afternoon, Dr. Mohamed Muizz garnered the support of 25 out of the 48 members of the Senate, securing his place as the primary backup candidate for the main opposition party.
This development comes on the heels of the Elections Commission (EC) turning down former President Abdulla Yameen’s candidacy on Tuesday. The EC cited Yameen’s 11-year prison sentence for accepting a bribe and money laundering as the basis for their decision, asserting that he did not meet the requirements to be considered a presidential candidate.
In response to the EC’s rejection, former President Yameen filed a constitutional appeal, prompting the Supreme Court to accept the appeal on Wednesday. The Court has summoned the EC to submit its written response by 3 pm on Thursday, with the first hearing scheduled for 2:30 pm on Friday.
As the political drama unfolds, all eyes are now on the Supreme Court’s forthcoming decision, which holds the potential to reshape the landscape of the presidential race. With Dr. Mohamed Muizz securing the PNC’s presidential ticket, the opposition party has positioned itself to be ready for any outcome from the Supreme Court’s ruling on former President Abdulla Yameen’s eligibility.
