Yameen alleges govt efforts to prevent him from contesting 2028 election

Former President Abdulla Yameen has alleged that individuals within the government are attempting to use the courts to prevent him from contesting the 2028 presidential election.

Speaking at a People’s National Front (PNF) rally in Hithadhoo, Addu City, on Wednesday night, Yameen said he had received information suggesting that efforts were under way to prevent his candidacy through legal proceedings, similar to what happened ahead of the 2023 presidential election.

Yameen, who has announced his intention to contest the 2028 election, said he had previously believed that President Mohamed Muizzu would not attempt to prevent him from standing for office in the same manner as the administration of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

Yameen was unable to contest the 2023 presidential election because of an 11-year prison sentence imposed on him at the time. The High Court subsequently overturned the conviction and referred the case back to the Criminal Court for a retrial. Hearings in the case recently resumed following a prolonged interruption.

Addressing supporters in Addu, Yameen alleged that government officials were discussing ways to prevent him from contesting the next presidential election.

"We are hearing that, just as happened previously under President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s administration, some people within the government are speaking to police officers and judges," Yameen said.

He suggested that the legal proceedings against him could result in another prison sentence or a ruling preventing him from standing for election.

Yameen said many people had questioned whether his name would appear on the ballot paper in 2028, particularly because of what happened during the previous presidential election.

He said the question had also been raised repeatedly during his visit to Addu City.

"My answer to everyone is that, God willing, my name will be on the ballot paper in the presidential election," Yameen said.

He maintained that there were no grounds for imprisoning him and called on the government to allow him to contest the election.

Yameen challenged President Muizzu to compete against him in an election and allow voters to decide who should govern the country.

He also accused Muizzu of losing public confidence through his own decisions rather than because of actions taken by the opposition.

According to Yameen, the President still had an opportunity to regain public trust by avoiding decisions that placed additional burdens on citizens and by taking measures that benefited the public.

Yameen further criticised what he described as the concentration of power within the administration and the weakening of state institutions.

"We are seeing the characteristics of a dark state. We are seeing powers being consolidated in the hands of someone governing in an authoritarian manner. Institutions have been weakened. There is no institution left that can fulfil its legal responsibilities," he said.

The former President's allegations concerning government interference in the judiciary and police were not accompanied by publicly presented evidence at the rally.

Yameen was initially nominated by the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) as its presidential candidate for the 2023 election.

However, the Elections Commission rejected his candidacy because of the 11-year prison sentence and a USD 5 million fine imposed following his conviction. The outstanding fine was treated as an enforceable debt, affecting his eligibility to contest the election.

Yameen challenged the Elections Commission's decision before the Supreme Court, which upheld his disqualification.

Following his exclusion from the election, Mohamed Muizzu became the PPM–People’s National Congress (PNC) coalition's presidential candidate and went on to win the election.

Relations between Yameen and Muizzu subsequently deteriorated, leading Yameen to leave the PPM and establish the PNF.

He has since become a critic of the Muizzu administration and has been campaigning against the government ahead of the 2028 presidential election.