JP officials urge VP to resign from party after pro-Solih comment

Former MP from Dhangethi constituency Ilham Ahmed, who is also a member of the Jumhooree Party (JP) council, said on Tuesday that if a party member supports a candidate of another party before the party takes a decision on the presidential election, then he should leave the party on his own.

Vice President Faisal Naseem, who belongs to the Jumhooree Party and is a member of the party's council, and Adam Azim, Managing Director of MTCC, support MDP's presidential candidate President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. They have been declaring this on various platforms.

Responding to a question from Atoll Times at a press conference held by JP at the party's headquarters, M. Kunuz, Ilham criticised Faisal and Azim for deciding to support President Solih.

"I believe they should leave the party if they have such a stand (supporting another party's presidential candidate)," Ilham said in response to a question on whether Faisal and Azim supporting another party's candidate is in accordance with JP’s basic regulations.

Ilham, who is part of the party's council as an advisor to JP leader Gasim Ibrahim, said, "We don't care too much about the issues of humour that politicians throw otherwise."

"But if [it] is serious, I believe they should resign. If they resign and do it, then its in accordance with general rules, and is the better way to do it," said Ilham, who was also the vice-president of PPM in the past.

JP is yet to take a final decision on the presidential elections. The party has said that if it contests the elections, it will be decided by the new council, which will be elected by the party's national council on February 24.